An American pope brings American-style governance to the Vatican, even in a health crisis

Pope Leo XIV has shifted how the Vatican communicates medical information by allowing doctors to provide direct updates on his health. Following a recent surgery to remove a lung nodule, which the pope announced during his Sunday noon blessing, his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and the head of thoracic surgery at Gemelli hospital, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, have been signing the daily medical bulletins regarding his recovery.

This approach contrasts with the communication style used during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. Church historian Alberto Melloni noted that during John Paul II's illness, Vatican spokesmen often provided overly optimistic reports that did not reflect the severity of his condition. Under Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican spokesman has moved away from these traditional methods, leaving medical updates to the physicians instead.