Pope Leo XIV Undergoes Surgery, Remains in Charge Despite Hospitalization

Pope Leo XIV undergoes lung nodule removal surgery but remains in charge of the Catholic Church during his hospitalization.

Editorial Desk

October 13, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Vatican City, Italy — Pope Leo XIV is set to undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule, yet he remains the sole authority of the Catholic Church despite his hospitalization.

The Vatican has no legal provisions for transferring power if the pope becomes incapacitated, meaning Leo retains full control even while under general anesthesia at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. The procedure is expected to last several days, with the pope’s daily responsibilities delegated to Vatican officials like Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the secretary of state.

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Canon law provides no specific guidance for situations where the pope is sick or unconscious, and past popes have only outlined hypothetical scenarios for resignation. The only time papal power changes hands is when a pope dies or resigns, triggering a series of rituals known as the interregnum.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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