In brief
Pope Leo IV, aged 71, was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for the removal of a lung lump found during routine checks. The operation, slated for Tuesday afternoon, followed a public announcement from St. Peter’s Square where the Pope declared the nodule to be contained and early-stage. A crowd gathered outside the hospital as the pontiff was escorted in, and Vatican officials promised an evening update on his recovery. The Pope’s schedule has been cleared through 20 October to allow time for healing. The planned trip to Latin America, including a significant visit to Peru, will be postponed until after his convalescence.
Rome – Pope Leo IV, aged 71, was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital for the removal of a lung lump discovered during routine checks.
The operation is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, and Vatican officials said the growth was contained and early‑stage.
A large crowd met the Pope on the hospital steps; some had waited hours outside to catch a glimpse. The pontiff waved and smiled through the lower back of his car, and staff reassured him with a quiet “sorry.”
On Sunday from St. Peter’s Square, the Pope announced the surgery, saying the nodule was “contained” and that doctors had advised removal before he travelled to Latin America in early November.
The Vatican has promised a Tuesday evening update, and the Pope’s schedule has been cleared until 20 October for recovery.
While nodules are common and not necessarily cancerous, the removed piece will be tested for signs of disease.
Cardinal Kikuchi Tarcisio Isao, after an audience with the Pope on Monday, reported that the pontiff felt “nothing wrong” physically and had chosen to address the issue quickly to keep his trip plan on track.
The Pope’s planned visit includes a stop in Peru, where he served as missionary and Bishop for many years.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin described the news as a “bolt from the blue,” noting the Pope’s calmness and expressing confidence in his recovery.
Outside the hospital, some faithful lingered to pray and wait for news, with one saying, “He seems calm, so we are calm too – even though illness is always unpleasant.”
