The Pope is due to be admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital late Tuesday morning, October 13, for an operation to remove a localised nodule in his lung. He is expected to remain in hospital for about one week.
One of the main changes concerns the closing Mass of the meeting, 10 Years After Amoris Laetitia: Proclaiming the Gospel with Families Today. Pope Leo, who was originally scheduled to preside over the celebration on Wednesday, October 14, will be replaced by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the new Dean of the College of Cardinals.
The Pope’s participation in the meeting has also been affected ahead of his admission. Although he held his scheduled audiences on Monday morning, he will not attend the afternoon session in the Paul VI Hall, according to Vatican News.
Another change involves the publication of the meeting’s concluding report, which will no longer be released on Wednesday night as initially planned.
Jesuit Father Giacomo Costa, one of the organisers, explained that Pope Leo wants to listen to the participants’ conclusions and have an opportunity to offer his own reflections before the document is made public.
The report’s publication will therefore be postponed until the Pope has had time to review it following his hospitalisation.
Despite these changes, the concluding press briefing scheduled for the evening of October 14 at the Holy See Press Office will go ahead as planned, according to the earlier announcement.
Pope Leo announced his planned surgery during the Sunday Angelus on October 11, explaining that doctors had discovered the nodule during recent medical examinations and recommended its removal.
Discussion about this post