Lucrezia Ciotti Pope Leo XIV is preparing to undergo surgery at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome to remove a lung nodule. In preparation for his hospitalization, a special security plan has been put in place involving law enforcement, the Vatican Gendarmerie, and medical personnel. In addition to monitoring access and controlling external areas, special attention will be paid to protecting the Pope's medical records.
Meanwhile, from the United States, his older brother Louis has appealed to the faithful, urging them to pray for a successful operation.
Pope Leo XIV at the Gemelli Hospital, with increased security: checks on entrances, drones, and health data.
A comprehensive security plan, designed to protect Pope Leo XIV during his hospitalization at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, without compromising the hospital's normal operations and patient care.
In preparation for the surgery to remove a lung nodule, identified during routine medical checks, the measures implemented involve both the facility's internal spaces and its external perimeter. Particular attention is being paid to internal areas , wards, corridors, storage areas, main and secondary entrances, and clinical analysis laboratories.
The goal is to guarantee maximum privacy for the Pope, while simultaneously protecting healthcare workers, patients, and all those who must access the hospital for visits, tests, or hospitalization.
Access to the Pope's reserved area will be managed by the Vatican Gendarmerie , in coordination with the Vatican Public Security Inspectorate and the Gemelli security service. Access to the Pope's reserved area will be restricted to authorized persons only, while the State Police will be primarily responsible for external security, with officers stationed at various access points and uniformed and plainclothes personnel monitoring the arrival of worshippers, onlookers, and journalists. Security checks will continue throughout the patient's stay, until discharge . Measures also include restrictions on the airspace above the facility , helicopter and drone controls, and anti-drone systems to prevent unauthorized aerial filming. Security of the hospital's IT networks, considered a potential target for cyber attacks and attempts to steal confidential information, will also be strengthened .
Protected medical records and Brother Louis's appeal: "I'm sure prayers help."
A particularly sensitive issue concerns the protection of Pope Leo XIV's health data . Medical reports, blood tests, biological samples, and other clinical documents could be managed using alphanumeric codes or pseudonyms , thus limiting immediate patient identification and reducing the risk of unauthorized disclosure. Protecting medical information takes on even greater importance in a context where cyberattacks can become tools of pressure and espionage. Procedures must therefore prevent improper access to medical records and digital infrastructure, keeping all updates on the Holy Father's condition confidential.
Meanwhile, a message arrived from the United States from Louis Prevost, the Pope 's older brother , a 74-year-old U.S. Navy veteran living in Florida. He too is undergoing treatment for cancer, but wanted to spare a thought for his younger brother ahead of his operation. " There's not much more I can say other than to include him in your prayers so that this operation goes well and there are no further complications ," he told Corriere della Sera in a telephone message. Louis expressed confidence in the Pope's recovery, adding: " I am sure he will make a full recovery and continue in his mission to lead the Catholic Church ." And regarding the spiritual closeness of the faithful, he concluded: " I am sure that prayers help ."