Pope admitted to hospital for surgery to remove lump on his lung

BySarah Rainsford Southern and Eastern Europe correspondent, Reporting fromat the Gemelli Hospital, Rome.

Key points

• Since I certainly wasn't expecting anything like this, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin informed journalists on Tuesday, yes.
• Cardinal Kikuchi Tarcisio Isao of Tokyo wrote on social media that he'd had an audience with Pope Leo on Monday, and remarked the pontiff felt "nothing wrong" physically.
• The Vatican remarked the Pope would be operated on by the Gemelli's thoracic surgery team and promised an update on his condition on Tuesday evening.
• His schedule has already been cleared until 20 October to offer him time to recover.
• The trip is particularly significant since it includes a visit to Peru, where the pontiff was a missionary and then a Bishop for numerous years.

Pope Leo XIV has been admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital for surgery to remove a lump on his lung, detected during what the Vatican has described as "routine checks". It remarked the operation would take place on Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the 71-year-old pontiff was met at the hospital by a sizeable crowd, some of whom had been waiting outside for a number of hours to catch a glimpse of him.

They cheered greetings and well wishes as he passed, waving and smiling back through the lowered back window of his car.

He was then met by staff on the hospital steps. "I'm sorry, " one of them commiserated, to which the Pope offered a smile and a shrug. "We're here for you, " he was assured.

It was Leo XIV himself who on Sunday confirmed news of his operation to the world, speaking from the balcony in St Peter's Square after delivering the traditional Angelus blessing.

He remarked the nodule, or expansion, on his lung was "contained" and had been discovered "at a very early stage", but that doctors had advised him to have it removed.

In practice, the Vatican remarked the Pope would be operated on by the Gemelli's thoracic surgery team and promised an update on his condition on Tuesday evening.

Nodules are quite common and not necessarily cancerous. But doctors say when a lump is removed it will usually be tested to check for any sign of the disease.

Meanwhile, the Vatican has stressed that the pontiff. This person is generally thought to be fit, had no symptoms of infection or illness.

He remarked the Pope had decided to check in for surgery as shortly as feasible as he was due to travel to Latin America in early November, and was keen to stick to that plan.

Notably, the trip is particularly significant since it includes a visit to Peru, where the pontiff was a missionary and then a Bishop for numerous years.

Despite all the reassurances, the news has shaken Catholics all over the world.

"Am I worried? Since I certainly wasn't expecting anything like this, " Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin informed journalists on Tuesday, yes.

He agreed that the news was like a "bolt from the blue", but remarked the cardinals had been struck by the Pope's "serenity" and were confident in his recovery.

Outside Gemelli Hospital, which has treated a number of popes and is home to a substantial statue of John Paul II, a few Catholics lingered after the pontiff was admitted. Carla had come specially, wanting to be close.

"He seems calm, so we are calm too – even though illness is always unpleasant, " she informed the BBC. "We will wait here and pray."

"I was in St Peter's Square when he made the announcement, and I felt really awful, " remarked Elsa, who was additionally present. "I was really taken aback, " she remarked, explaining that when Pope Leo was elected she had thought he was a younger, healthier pontiff.

"It turns out he's vulnerable too. I really hope it's something superficial, that can be contained, like he informed us."

Taken together, the developments around pope admitted to hospital for surgery to remove lump on his lung point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.