They report that Pope Leo XIV’s hospitalization could be moved up and his meeting with Abinader might be at risk

Dominican journalist Roberto Cavada reported this Monday that, according to versions circulating in the Vatican, the admission of Pope Leo XIV to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome could be brought forward, where he will undergo surgery to remove a nodule detected in one of his lungs. This situation would cast doubt on the scheduled meeting with President Luis Abinader.

Through his account on the social network X, Cavada, who is in the Italian capital covering the official visit of the Dominican president, warned about a possible modification to the pontiff’s agenda.

“Urgent… Urgent… it is emerging in Vatican corridors that Pope Leo XIV’s admission to the Gemelli hospital is being moved up. Yesterday His Holiness announced that a nodule had been detected in one of his lungs. All meetings and audiences are canceled. Attention,” the communicator posted.

The information emerges after Pope Leo XIV himself announced this Sunday, October 11, that doctors detected an early-stage pulmonary nodule and recommended a surgical intervention to remove it.

As officially reported by the Vatican, the operation is scheduled for the first days of this week and it is estimated that the pontiff will remain hospitalized for approximately seven days.

Pope Leo XIV and Abinader

Versions regarding a possible early hospitalization are generating uncertainty surrounding the audience that President Luis Abinader has scheduled with Leo XIV for Thursday, October 15, as part of his official visit to the Vatican.

This Sunday, the Dominican president had assured that the meeting remained on the agenda, despite the announcement of the surgical intervention, while expressing his solidarity with the leader of the Catholic Church.

However, the information disclosed by Cavada points to a possible suspension of papal activities and audiences in light of the eventual early hospital admission.

So far, the cancellation of the meeting between Abinader and Pope Leo XIV has not been officially confirmed, nor has the alleged advancement of the hospitalization pointed out by the journalist.

Pope Leo XIV: agenda

The Dominican head of state arrived in Rome this Sunday, accompanied by the first lady, Raquel Arbaje, to fulfill an agenda that also includes his participation in activities of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), as well as meetings with Italian authorities.

The audience with the pontiff is on the president’s official agenda for Thursday, October 15, according to the schedule released by the Presidency of the Dominican Republic.