The Dominican President, Luis Abinader, expressed his regret on Sunday at the announcement that Pope Leo XIV must undergo an operation to remove a nodule detected in one of his lungs and expressed his solidarity with the Pontiff.
As he was approached by journalists before the opening tape court of the Dominican Stop in Rome, the president described the news as “pitiful” and said that the agenda planned with the leader of the Catholic Church remains unchanged.
The statements were made during Abinader's official visit to Italy, which includes an audience with León XIV in the Vatican on Thursday, October 15.
Lion XIV will be operated by a pulmonary nodule
The pontiff reported this Sunday that the doctors detected a nodule in one of his lungs and that he must undergo a surgical intervention to remove it.
“The doctors found an early and well-located nodule in my lung,” he said during his usual Sunday prayers in St. Peter's Square in Rome, after the Angelus prayer.
León XIV said that the finding is in a “very initial and well located” phase and thanked the close-up and prayers of the faithful.
“I thank you for your spiritual closeness and I entrust myself to your prayers. Thank you and happy Sunday,” added the Pontiff from the window of his office at the Apostolic Palace.
According to the information published by the Vatican, the intervention is planned for the first days of next week and will require approximately one week of hospitalization.
Abinader develops official agenda in Rome
Abinader arrived in Rome this Sunday with the first lady, Raquel Arbaje, to meet an agenda that includes activities in the Vatican, meetings with Italian authorities and their participation in the World Food Forum 2026.
In addition to the hearing with León XIV, the Dominican President plans to meet with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
The agenda also includes meetings with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Qu Dongyu, and other staff members of the agency.
The World Food Forum is held in Rome from 8 to 16 October under the slogan “Innovate today to feed tomorrow.”.
