Vatican Pope Surgery
People walk past the main entrance of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic where Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to be hospitalized in the next days to remove a lung nodule, in Rome, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026.
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The Vatican says Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to the hospital Tuesday in the late morning. He is then to have an operation to remove a lung nodule. The 71-year-old Leo revealed the discovery during his Sunday noon prayer and said he was following doctors’ advice to remove the nodule. The Vatican press office said Monday that no particular issue precipitated the checkup that identified the nodule. On Monday, Leo had a full day of audiences and meetings. Leo presided over six private audiences and one group audience. Late Monday, the Vatican canceled all his audiences through Oct. 20.
