Pope Leo XIV will be hospitalised at Gemelli Hospital in Rome today ahead of a surgery to remove a nodule in his lung, as Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President Archbishop Timothy Costelloe and people worldwide express their concern and prayers for the pontiff.
Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni said the pontiff is expected to remain hospitalised for about one week at the hospital, where he will continue his recovery after the operation, EWTN News reported.
Archbishop Costelloe, who is in Rome for the October 7-14 summit marking 10 years of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, issued a statement yesterday following Pope Leo’s shock announcement on Sunday.
The archbishop said the Pope’s health disclosure “was both a surprise and a matter of deep concern, not just for Catholics but for all those who see in him a powerful advocate for peace, compassion and stability in an increasingly volatile and fractured world”.
“His assurance that the doctors are positive about the outcome of the operation is a source of hope for us,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“The knowledge that not just Catholics but all people of faith and goodwill will be praying for Pope Leo will be a source of comfort for him.”
The Holy See Press Office also announced that Pope Leo will no longer celebrate the closing Mass of the Amoris Laetitia meeting. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the recently appointed Dean of the College of Cardinals, will replace the Pope as the celebrant for the closing Mass.
Additionally, according to one of the organisers, Fr Giacomo Costa, SJ, the conference’s concluding summary will no longer be published on Wednesday night.
Fr Costa told journalists yesterday that the Pope would like to have time following his hospitalisation to read the document and possibly add his own response before making it public.
FULL STORY
Archbishop Costelloe meets with Pope Leo XIV (By Jamie O’Brien, The Record)
Pope Leo XIV to be admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday (EWTN News)
RELATED COVERAGE
Pope Leo to be admitted to Gemelli Hospital on October 13 (Vatican News)
Christian leaders unite in prayer for Pope Leo XIV (Vatican News)
