Chiara Nava The lung surgery performed on Pope Leo XIV at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome has been successfully completed . The Vatican Press Office announced the success, specifying that the operation was carried out on time and according to the planned procedures and that the Pontiff has already returned to his room . The thoracic surgery team that performed the procedure was led by Professor Stefano Margaritora.
No further details have been released at this time regarding the results of the tests on the removed nodule or the recovery time. The Holy See has announced that further updates will follow.
Pope Leo XIV: his speech at the Gemelli Hospital and Cardinal Parolin's words
Pope Leo XIV arrived at the Gemelli Polyclinic around 13 pm on Tuesday 13 October, after leaving the Vatican through Porta del Perugino.
The Pope greeted those present outside the hospital, appearing serene and smiling despite the impending operation.
The lung nodule had been discovered during routine medical checks. Leo XIV himself spoke about it publicly during the Angelus on October 11, explaining that the growth had been detected at an early stage and was well-localized.
On the advice of her doctors, she had therefore decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The nature of the lump will have to be clarified by medical tests.
Before the operation, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin , had expressed confidence in overcoming the difficulty. Recounting his meeting with the Pope the previous evening, he emphasized the serenity with which the Pontiff had communicated the news and invited everyone to accompany him with prayer.
Pope Leo XIV's lung surgery: increased security and international attention
Special security measures have been put in place for the Pope's hospital stay . According to Il Messaggero , access to the hospital area reserved for Leo XIV is subject to checks and authorizations, while law enforcement is monitoring the external perimeter. Measures have also been adopted to protect the confidentiality of medical data and the security of the facility's computer networks.
The hospitalization has also attracted international attention due to the context of relations between the Vatican and the United States. The reported material does not include public messages of solidarity from President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, or Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The issue is part of a context of divergences that have already emerged on several political and moral issues , including the death penalty, against which Leo XIV has expressed a clear position.
For now, however, attention remains focused on the Pope's condition after the surgery . The Vatican Press Office confirmed the successful outcome of the operation and assured that further information will be released. No more precise official details on the prognosis or the actual length of hospital stay are yet available.