EXPLAINER — What is the 'hospital of the popes' where Leo is recovering from surgery?

ROME, Oct 15 (Reuters) — Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where Pope Leo is recovering after surgery for lung cancer, is known as the "hospital of the popes". The hospital, with a suite especially for popes, has become the preferred medical facility for modern pontiffs since the time of Pope John Paul II. What Is The Gemelli? Located some 5 km (3 miles) from the Vatican City, the Gemelli hospital offers every major medical speciality under one roof. It also serves as the teaching hospital of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart and has more than 1,600 beds. There is a dedicated suite for popes on the 10th floor, including a private chapel. However, this is currently under renovation, meaning Leo is staying in a different set of rooms. In the 2026 Newsweek-Statista "World's Best Hospitals" rankings, Gemelli was named as Italy's top hospital and ranked 33rd globally among more than 2,500 hospitals assessed across 32 countries. How Did It Become The Popes' Hospital? Popes were traditionally treated by doctors summoned to their residence. For example, Pope Paul VI underwent prostate surgery in 1967 in a specially equipped operating room set up inside the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. Ever