“We were all struck by the calm with which the Pope announced this intervention,” Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin told the press on October 12, 2026, a few hours before Leo XIV was to be admitted to hospital for surgery to remove a lung nodule. The cardinal was speaking on the sidelines of an event organized at the Gregorian University in Rome. Speaking to journalists, the right-hand man of the 71-year-old Pontiff reported that he had spoken with Leo XIV, who had “great composure,” on Monday evening. He further praised the “great example” set by the Pontiff. Since this unexpected announcement after praying the midday Sunday Angelus, many in Rome have noted the Pope’s composure and praised the openness with which he announced the situation to the whole world. “I certainly wasn’t expecting anything like this. […] Nobody was expecting it,” the Italian cardinal admitted. He said he feels a certain degree of “concern” Read More…

Cardinal Parolin says pre-surgery Leo is calm, composed