General · Oct 13, 2026
Pope Leo XIV to enter Gemelli Hospital on Oct. 13 for lung nodule surgery; recovery may affect November South America tour
The Vatican announced on Oct. 12 that Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital late in the morning on Oct. 13 for surgery to remove a lung nodule. During the Angelus on Oct. 11, the pope said he had decided to have the nodule removed after it was found during a routine checkup, describing it as “well-circumscribed” and “detected at a very early stage.” He is expected to spend about a week in hospital after surgery. The Vatican has not said whether the nodule is benign or malignant or disclosed the exact surgery date. Plans for his Nov. 6–17 visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru are proceeding as scheduled.