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Game time announced for Penn State football versus Wisconsin
(WHTM) – Penn State football has announced game time for the Wisconsin game later this month. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium against the Badgers. The game, which is being held on Homecoming Weekend, will be streamed on Peacock. Penn State is 2-0 […]
Cannons stifle Redwoods to sweep Homecoming Weekend
“All together,” Marcus Holman said as the Cannons lined up behind the tunnel, preparing to take the field for their final regular-season game. It was fitting that Holman’s message...
LeBron James, 76ers Set for Emotional Home Opener Against Cavaliers
LeBron James will be facing the team that drafted him in his first game at Xfinity Mobile Arena. This will be a homecoming like no other.
Loyola hires new top lawyer; ex-Saints staffer picked to tourism post; homecoming for new CFO
Take a look at some of the recent promotions and new hires announced at south Louisiana businesses.
Local businesses, students gather Wednesday in Milwaukee for HBCU homecoming celebration
Local businesses, students gather Wednesday in Milwaukee for HBCU homecoming celebration
Stefon Diggs makes his case for joining Commanders in 2026
Stefon Diggs wants to play. And it sure sounds like he's looking for a homecoming with the Commanders.
Liverpool Could Trigger €70m Jarell Quansah Clause
The Reds face a high-stakes decision as their academy graduate dominates the Bundesliga, with a strategic buy-back clause offering a cut-price path to an Anfield homecoming.
Yankees news: Spencer Jones’ homecoming
A long-awaited San Diego return; Grisham leaves with injury; Yankees prospect’s slap-happy approach; 9/11 commemoration plans
Heat’s Tim Hardaway Jr. leaning into ‘familiarity and comfortability’ of Miami: ‘It’s surreal’
This is a homecoming that Tim Hardaway Jr. has been thinking about for a long time.
New Mundelein business adds to Lake County’s brewing history; ‘It’s a homecoming’
Owner Ben Fenton, a Mundelein native, says the community’s concentration of breweries makes it a destination for craft fans.
Is Purdue a MUST-WIN Game for Illinois This Weekend?
Facing a defensive crisis and coaching shakeup, Bret Bielema’s squad must secure a homecoming victory to stabilize a chaotic season and reclaim momentum in the Big Ten.
Belpre Homecoming reveals entertainment lineup for 94th year
BELPRE – Local artists and tribute acts will provide the entertainment at the 2026 Belpre Homecoming in August for the festival’s 94th year. The four-day event kicks off Thursday, Aug. 6, in Civitan Park. Local band Insured Sound takes the stage at 8 p.m., sponsored by the Belpre Woman’s Club. Performing for over 50 years, […]
Dan Skillings returns to Cincinnati looking for Baylor win
It'll be a homecoming of sorts when Cincinnati plays hosts to Baylor on Wednesday night in a Big 12 contest featuring a pair of struggling teams.
Islanders 3, Maple Leafs 1: Ritchie shines in homecoming
Ritchie picked up a goal & an assist in his Toronto homecoming, while Mat Barzal notched an assist on all three goals.
Elvis' homecoming concert to celebrate 70th anniversary Sept. 26
TUPELO – To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s historic 1956 Tupelo homecoming concert, the Elvis Presley Birthplace & Museum will host Elvis ’56: The Homecoming Concert, a free
Sutherland takes UFC Perth fight on week's notice
Tai Tuivasa's homecoming bout at UFC Perth is back on after Briton Louie Sutherland agreed to take the fight on short notice.
LeBron James Connected to Cleveland Cavaliers Homecoming
While LeBron James is still making his decision about where he wants to play next year, don't be surprised if he ultimately winds up back where it all started, with the Cleveland Cavaliers. After eight strong seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, James is a free agent at the age of 41, and he has ...
Quantum Nexus to Power California’s Research Regime
On October 3, proud alums were celebrating UC Berkeley’s past and present at Homecoming. Five floors up, campus and state leaders were hailing its future.Governor Gavin Newsom, UC President James
2026 College Football Watch Guide
An unfriendly reunion in Oxford headlines week 3. Will it be a happy homecoming for Kiffin?
Central drops Homecoming game vs Abilene Cooper 28-21
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — The Central Bobcats entered week three of the high school football season 1-1 and hosted Abilene Cooper for their Homecoming. Bobcats were coming off a 40-35 week two loss in which they played catchup the whole game and looked to rebound tonight. Bobcats took on the Cougars for […]
Dark Sheik Walked Out On GCW Over Drake Wuertz - Fightful | WWE News, AEW News, Pro Wrestling Backstage News
At GCW Homecoming in August, Drake Wuertz made a surprise appearance, helping Joseph Sawyer win the GCW Title.
City of Heroes: Homecoming hosts the Players Choice Awards for Architect Entertainment arcs
Any dedicated player of City of Heroes: Homecoming knows that there are many arcs in Architect Entertainment which are there for farming or leveling. This is just how it is. But there are also many arcs that weave interesting narratives, and the Players Choice Awards is returning to the server from back when the game was [...]
Illinois catering business ordered to shut down after high school football team got sick before homecoming
The unlicensed caterer served a taco bar with fajita chicken, seasoned taco beef, cheese, flour taco shells, cheesy pepper beans, cilantro corn rice and pico de gallo or salsa
Religious ‘homecoming’ of sorts brings pork and politicians to Fancy Farm
The pastor of the church where Kentucky’s annual political picnic occurs explained how his faith informs his politics.
Bayern's Neuer: Boos in Schalke homecoming 'are compliments'
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer wasn't bothered by the boos and whistles in his homecoming to Gelsenkirchen for his likely last match at Schalke. "Those are actually compliments, that's love.
Miles College Honors Master P, Announces Economic Mobility Initiative at Inaugural Business and Research Conference
Special to the Times Miles College hosted its first Judge U.W. Clemon Center Business & Research Conference on Friday, during Homecoming 2026, bringing together Alabama leaders and nationally r…
PHOTOS: Albany State Homecoming Alumni Association Business Meeting
Click the arrow to scroll through the photos.
College Football Opening Odds: Mizzou opens as a Homecoming underdog
The Tigers host a surging Florida team for its annual Homecoming festivities.
Opening Odds: Mizzou slightly favored over Texas A&M
Mizzou stays home to try and follow up a Homecoming masterclass.
UVA Wise falls to Anderson in Homecoming game, 39-21
WISE, Va. (WJHL) — The UVA Wise Cavaliers fell to Anderson 39-21 Saturday in the team’s Homecoming game and South Atlantic Conference opener. The Cavaliers were held scoreless in the first half before finding the end zone three times after the break. Quarterback McClan Beason completed 21 of 31 passes for 208 yards and a […]
In Final Four homecoming, Detroit organizers tout opportunities of citywide event
Spartans coach Tom Izzo hopes the April event helps the city make its case for another Final Four.
Dearborn Homecoming resumes with Martina McBride, fireworks Saturday
The 45th annual festival runs from noon to 10:30 p.m. at Ford Field Park, 22051 Cherry Hill Road. Admission is free, though carnival rides require tickets or wristbands.
Auburn Weekly Roundtable
Week 4 has arrived, and the Auburn Tigers are looking for a bounceback after their 42-39 loss to the Florida Gators. It’s Homecoming on the Plains, and the Vanderbilt Commodores are in town, who have had the Tigers’ number over the past few seasons.
Minerva Homecoming 2026 brings parade, entertainment and family events to Municipal Park
The June 10-13 festival at Municipal Park included entertainment, food, family activities and parade award winners.
Simmons football postpones homecoming, changes game time after player death
The Hollandale School District postponed Simmons football's homecoming and changed game times on Sept. 21, following the death of a player.
Belpre Homecoming reveals entertainment lineup for 94th year
BELPRE – Local artists and tribute acts will provide the entertainment at the 2026 Belpre Homecoming in August for the festival’s 94th year. The four-day event kicks off Thursday, Aug. 6, in Civitan Park. Local band Insured Sound takes the stage at 8 p.m., sponsored by the Belpre Woman’s Club. Performing for over 50 years, […]
Building an Entertainment Career Before Graduation: Charlotte ’27
A scholarship creating experiences at Chapman helped Charlotte ’27 land two entertainment internships and find community before graduation.
Rising homecoming costs spur Pensacola business' free dress donation drive
PENSACOLA, Fla. -- For some girls, homecoming is a night they dream about, but for families worried about the cost, buying a dress can put that moment out of re
Milwaukee Bucks returning to full-season over-the-air television
It’s a new era for the Milwaukee Bucks, on and off the court. The NBA franchise announced Friday it will return to full-season over-the-air television for the first time in 31 years, with games airing locally on MY24 and statewide affiliates in partnership with Rincon Broadcasting Group. It’s a homecoming of sorts, as MY24 was…
Ouachita Basketball Homecoming (October 2026)
Click here to view this image from malvern-online.com.
Crab Tank program aims to lift up local entrepreneurs
Baltimore Homecoming's Crab Tank Entrepreneur Program seeks to lift up local business leaders.
Science icon Bill Nye to speak at RIT’s homecoming
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – RIT has a special guest in town for its homecoming weekend. World-class science educator Bill Nye, best known for his Emmy-winning television series Bill Nye The Science Gu…
Sheikh Hasina’s return bid threatens to upend Bangladeshi politics
The ousted leader, who has been sentenced to death, plans a December homecoming in a high-stakes bid to resurrect her banned party.
Unlicensed catering business shut down after Rock Island football team food poisoned before Homecoming game
An unlicensed home-based catering business was ordered to cease operations after 45 people were sickened at a Rock Island football team dinner.
Stories and song celebrate Oscar Brown Jr.'s centennial
Friday afternoon felt like a homecoming of sorts as family, friends and admirers of Oscar Brown Jr. gathered under sunny skies at Harper Court to celebrate the artist during what
Global Broadcasters Take ‘Best Medicine’ As Raft Of Deals Land For Fox Series
EXCLUSIVE: A slew of international deals for Best Medicine have closed. Sky has scored UK rights for its channels and NOW streaming service, marking a kind of homecoming for the show, which is based o...
The Weeks | Sept. 6: Racist incident by LWE students at H-F homecoming, Olympia Fields nurses rally, Hidden Gem race Sept. 12, SSPADS moves to Homewood, science center adds new features
Your government | Notices | Stuff to do | Plan ahead | Last week THE WEEK > Your government Monday, Sept. 7 Labor Day. No meetings. Tuessday, Sept. 8 Homewood Board of Trustees will meet at 7 p.m. in village hall, 2020 Chestnut Road. The agenda is available here. The livestream of[Read More...]
Photos: Seattle welcomes home gold medal Torrent Olympians with record-breaking attendance
KOMO 4 TV provides news, sports, weather and local event coverage in the Seattle, Washington area including Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, Kent, Tacoma, Bremerton, SeaTac, Auburn, Mercer Island, Bothell, Shoreline, Lynnwood, Mill Creek and Everett.
Broadcast details for Florida's homecoming game vs South Carolina
Broadcast details for Florida's football's homecoming game against the South Carolina Gamecocks in Week 6 were released on Sunday.
HIGHLIGHTS: Reagan County vs. Miles
MILES, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – The Reagan County Owls went on the road and spoiled the homecoming of the Miles Bulldogs in overtime with a 45-43 victory. With the win the Owls improved to 2-1. Next week, the Owls are at home taking on McCamey. Watch the video above for the highlights.
U.S Arboretum Director Richard T. Olsen To Lead Horticultural Science at NC State
In a horticultural homecoming, Richard T. Olsen, director of the U.S. National Arboretum, will return to lead the horticultural science department at NC State, where he earned two degrees.
Release of Marine veteran from Russian custody turns focus to other detainees with health concerns
WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert Gilman’s release from Russian custody this month heralded a long-awaited homecoming for the Marine veteran after more than four years behind bars.
UNI Athletics sets All-Sports Reunion for Homecoming 2026
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI Athletics Department on Thursday announced that it will hold an all-sports reunion as part of the 2026 homecoming celebration.
Waitlists, gaps in care and escalating crises: Advocates say CT lacking adequate child mental health care
The need for more mental health providers is a systemic problem and therefore the legislature and DCF must find a way to increase meaningful supports for children, advocates and lawyers say.
Release of Marine Veteran From Russian Custody Turns Focus to Other Detainees With Health Concerns
WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert Gilman’s release from Russian custody this month heralded a long-awaited homecoming for the Marine veteran after more than four years behind bars. But as Harold Jezler followed the media coverage from the United States, he couldn’t help but notice Gilman’s gaunt and sickly ...
Live Game Thread: Mizzou Hosts Red-Hot Florida on Homecoming
The Tigers hope to take down a top-10 Gators squad
Jay Park, K-pop star, ready for homecoming Seattle show with LNGSHOT
Edmonds-born K-pop idol Jay Park marks his return to Washington with a homecoming headline show at Seattle’s WAMU Theater this month.
Penn State football looks to rebound against Northwestern
(WHTM) – A loss to unranked Wisconsin has the Nittany Lions outside the AP Top 25 going into a short-week road game. The first loss of the Matt Campbell era came after the Badgers erased a 17-point Penn State lead and scored 14 unanswered points in the final four minutes of the Nittany Lions’ Homecoming […]
Minnesota Golden Gophers: Homecoming Weekend Athletic Preview
All of the Gopher action happening home and away this weekend and how to catch it all!
Science icon Bill Nye to speak at RIT’s homecoming
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – RIT has a special guest in town for its homecoming weekend. World-class science educator Bill Nye, best known for his Emmy-winning television series Bill Nye The Science Guy, will be this year’s Brick City Weekend & Student Government speaker. Nye will be at the Gordon Field House at 2 p.m. Since […]
Steelers hire Mike McCarthy as next head coach, Mike Tomlin's successor
This is a homecoming for McCarthy, who is a Pittsburgh native.
Cheers and jeers over club's £4m homecoming plans
The £4m project is splitting opinion in the town.
Northwestern Opens as Massive Favorite Against Ball State
Northwestern opens as a 34.5-point favorite against Ball State, with the spread climbing to 36.5 ahead of Saturday's Homecoming matchup at New Ryan Field.
Malvern High School Homecoming 2026: Presenting Your Hometown Homecoming Queen Heaven!!
The Malvern High School 2026 Homecoming Queen Heaven Brown was escorted and introduced to the Leopard Stadium fans Friday during pregame festivities on David Alpe Field.
Southern University faces Arkansas Pine Bluff in homecoming game
Southern University will face the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff in their homecoming game this Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium.
Spin Doctors headline SIU’s biggest Homecoming celebration
CARBONDALE — One of Southern Illinois' most anticipated traditions is back.
Long-Deployed Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln Set for Homecoming
The ship, whose crew endured food shortages, spent much of its nearly 11-month deployment in combat without a day off.
Cavaliers Get Conflicting LeBron Update After Rumored Homecoming
A LeBron James homecoming to Cleveland gained momentum—until two respected NBA insiders changed the conversation. The post Cavaliers Get Conflicting LeBron Update After Rumored Homecoming appeared first on HEAVY.
Science icon Bill Nye to speak at RIT’s homecoming
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – RIT has a special guest in town for its homecoming weekend. World-class science educator Bill Nye, best known for his Emmy-winning television series Bill Nye The Science Guy, ...
Is Bill Belichick Going to Make it to New England Homecoming Against UConn?
The Huskies' Nov. 7 matchup against North Carolina is one of the marquee points of the schedule, but will the matchup happen as its intended to?
Wisconsin football vs. Michigan State: Live updates, stats, score
Fresh off a ranked win at Penn State, the Wisconsin Badgers return to Madison for homecoming against Michigan State.
Brewers Spoil Peralta's Return in Win Over Mets
The Milwaukee Brewers did not provide a fun homecoming for New York Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta.
College of Ag Sciences clubs get philanthropy boost from visiting ag company
Three clubs in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences got a recent boost from a new donation from Pivot Bio, a company specializing in products that optimize crop production through specific nitrogen delivery.
How to watch Keyla Richardson on 'American Idol' finale
Pensacola's Keyla Richardson performs on the 'American Idol' finale tonight. Here's how to watch and vote.
Le Pen homecoming centres on housing ahead of 2027 race
The National Rally leader relaunches her campaign by focusing on domestic economic concerns
Three Keys To A Spartans Homecoming Win Over Illinois
Pat Fitzgerald still seeks his first Big Ten win as Illinois visits for homecoming Saturday. #GoGreen
HIGHLIGHTS: Compass vs. Wink
WINK, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – The Wink Wildcats hosted Compass for their homecoming game and got the 42-13 victory, improving to 3-0. With the loss the Cougars drop to 0-3. Next week, the Wildcats are on the road facing New Home, and the Cougars are on the road to face Merkel. Watch the video above for […]
Bronx high schooler detained by ICE returns to NYC
Contreras was given a conditional release on Wednesday after 10-months in detention.
Zendaya constantly quotes this Robert Downey Jr. line insulting Tom Holland’s Spider-Man
Zendaya said that she constantly quotes this dialogue from ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ that Robert Downey Jr. improvised to insult Tom Holland’s Spider-Man.
William Jewell honors MicahJo Barnett for their homecoming game
William Jewell College's homecoming game Saturday carried a deeper meaning than the usual celebrations and traditions.
Chief Keef Postpones First Chicago Show in Over a Decade
The rapper’s homecoming concert has been pushed back to September 23
New Jersey Devils Hit Home Run With Sunny Mehta Hire
The New Jersey Devils have entered the “Mehtaverse” after hiring Sunny Mehta as the team’s new general manager. The former Florida Panthers assistant GM now gets his first crack as the head man in charge. It’s also a homecoming for Mehta, who grew up in Wycoff, NJ, and was the team’s head of analytics […] The post New Jersey Devils Hit Home Run With Sunny Mehta Hire appeared first on The Lead.
Joe Biden returns to bask in 'thank you' event from South Carolina Democrats
Former President Joe Biden returned to South Carolina on Friday for a warm homecoming from the Democrats who resurrected his 2020 presidential campaign
Vance’s homecoming is a throwback to 2024 — and a preview for 2026 and 2028: From the Politics Desk
Plus, an uncertain South Carolina race presents a key test for Trump.
Feature: Moore ’26 Keeps Busy with Double Science Major and Music
Luke Moore ’26 came to Kansas Wesleyan on a music scholarship. He’s graduating this weekend (May 16) with a double major in Chemistry and Physics. He’s as active on the music side as he is with his science activities — he’s played the cello for 10 years, including four years at Kansas Wesleyan. It’s common, he said, for scientists and musicians to share those interests. “I’ve spoken to plenty of musicians who would have done science if they weren’t musicians, and I’ve talked to plenty of scientists who would have done music if they weren’t scientists,” Mooresaid. He played the cello in the string orchestra, which he’s done since his first year, and as a junior and senior, sang in the Philharmonic Choir as a bass. He hadn’t sung in a choir since middle schoolin Garden City, but he found he really enjoys that aspect of his college career. Also as a junior, Moore helped re-activate the STEM Club as vice president. For two years, he helped build the club’s battlebot. Last year the bot came home from battles in Kansas City in pieces, lots of pieces. This year it came home with the first-place trophy. He’s helped make frozen nitrogen ice cream at Homecoming and other events and helped organize the STEM Club’s first gingerbread house competition for the holidays. Willing to get his hands – and face – dirty for science, he encouraged fellow musicians and scientists to smash him in the face with whipped cream pies on Pi Day (March 14) as a fundraiser for the STEM Club. His capstone project involved developing a metallic organic framework (MOF) that takes a methylene blue dye out of water. “I’m proud that I was able to design this project, and I was proud that I did end up making the MOF,” Moore said. The professors and attitudes at KWU have made all this possible. “I don’t actually have time for everything,” Moore said. “I have to prioritize things. Things inevitably fall through the cracks, but it’s hard for me to choose one over the other, because I like a lot of things. And I don’t want to not do music, and I don’t want to not do science.” Moore said that Kansas Wesleyan, as a smaller university, gives students the opportunity to try things. “If I were to want to be in a music ensemble, it would probably be a bit harder in a larger school. One nice thing about this school is that everyone’s involved in something,” he said. “Professors know that you have other things going on, and they are flexible and understanding.” Moore has applied to grad schools, with an goal of earning his Ph.D. and landing at a university big enough to allow for a small research team that also gives him an opportunity to teach. He’s off to a good start. Moore is receiving the award for Outstanding Research in the Math, Physics and Computer Studies Department at Commencement this year. Story by Jean Kozubowski
Poyen High School Homecoming 2026: PHS Homecoming Queen Belle
Poyen High School 2026 Homecoming Queen Belle Groomes was escorted by her father on the field during the evening homecoming ceremony at Malvern National Bank Stadium Friday night.
Detroit’s entertainment economy needs more than star power to grow, Big Sean and others say
Entertainment should be a bigger part of Detroit's economic pie, said panelists during a Detroit Homecoming discussion with Grant Gilbert, Sean “Big Sean” Anderson and Shawn Wilson.
Is Base Stealing a Science or an Art Form? RI's David Earl Lopes…
Former Major League Baseball players Dusty Baker, Dave Stewart, and Jerry Royster helped celebrate David Earl Lopes’s homecoming this past Wednesday.…
Big Ten Conference announces start time for Nebraska-Maryland matchup
Nebraska has announced the kickoff time for its Homecoming game against Maryland.
FAMU unveils new mural honoring business school’s founding dean during homecoming celebrations
Florida A&M University’s annual Homecoming is well underway, with fun, unique events happening all week.
Frost: UCF Has 'Awesome Opportunity' Against No. 2 BYU
Coming off a crucial bye week, the Knights look to upend the surging Cougars in a historic Homecoming clash featuring potential quarterback returns and defensive reinforcements.
Celebrate PHS Homecoming Oct. 23
The Pleasanton Ex-Students Association is getting ready for the PHS Homecoming game to be held on Friday, Oct. 23, at Eagle Stadium. They will be honoring the years ending in
HIGHLIGHTS: Arizona Compass Prep vs. Odessa
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – The Arizona Compass Prep Dragons spoiled the Odessa Bronchos’ homecoming as the Dragons won 31-27. With the loss, the Bronchos drop to 2-4, and next week they kick off district play at home against Midland. Watch the video above for the highlights.
High school sports roundup for Oct. 9-10, 2026
Friday October 9 Football Mountlake Terrace defeated Lynnwood 35-0 Mountlake Terrace jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the first half on Homecoming Night and cruised to a 35-0 victory […]
Reggie Burrows Hodges remixes the Old Masters for an L.A. homecoming
Reggie Burrows Hodges is the subject of three concurrent L.A. exhibitions at the Getty, the California African American Museum and Art + Practice. These will mark his first-ever solo presentations in his hometown.
How worried should Catholics be about the pope’s health?
Pope Leo XIV announced on Sunday that he will undergo surgery this week to remove a “nodule” from his lung. The pope made the announcement at the end of his Sunday Angelus address, asking for prayers. “Dear all, recently, during some checkups, the doctors discovered a nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and was well-localized,” Leo said. “The doctors felt it was necessary to intervene, and so, following their advice, I decided to have surgery to remove it. The procedure is already scheduled for the next few days. I thank you for your spiritual support and I entrust myself to your prayers.” The Vatican press office subsequently added that Leo is scheduled to undergo surgery at the Gamelli hospital on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The pope is expected to spend up to a week in the Gamelli recovering, after which, for the moment, he is still expected to undertake his largest and longest to-date Apostolic journey, heading to Argentina, Uruguay, and Peru, beginning Nov. 6. Prayers have, understandably, poured in from dioceses around the world, accompanied by the best wishes of heads of state and international institutions. So how worried should Catholics be for the health of the pope? The Vatican’s messaging around Leo’s pending surgery is, in many ways, a new approach to papal health issues. But, despite the pope’s personal candour, the Holy See’s messaging perhaps raises as many questions as it answers. Subscribe — Leo’s decision to announce his own medical status and pending hospital stay during the Sunday Angelus is, it should be said, already something of a big deal. Traditionally, the health of popes simply hasn’t been discussed publicly or officially, until circumstances made it absolutely necessary. Memorably, in 2023 Pope Francis was rushed to the Gemelli in an ambulance, exhibiting signs of cardiac arrest according to many close to him, only for the Sala Stampa to put out a statement insisting he was merely going in for “pre-scheduled” tests. That Pope Leo has decided to announce his condition himself, with remarkable frankness, is a significant comms policy shift around the Apostolic Palace. This might reflect a deliberately more open posture, as opposed to the traditional, otiose evasiveness, and the first fruits of an American pope and American prefect of the Dicastery for Communications favoring honesty as a baseline. Equally, it must be allowed, it could be that the pope’s situation is serious enough that there would be no keeping it under wraps or playing it off, and the decision was made to be as open as possible to head off speculation about the papal health. Certainly, Leo appeared to make every effort to sound reassuring — stressing that, whatever the diagnosis is, exactly, it is “well-localized” and “early stage.” Of course, for everyone listening, talk of a “nodule” in a lung will immediately send thoughts — and prayers — running to concerns about words not used, like “cancer,” “tumor,” “begnin” or “malignant.” To be clear, none of those words may yet be medically appropriate. And there is every reason to believe and assume that Leo is giving almost as much information as he may have himself at this stage. But the context of the pope’s announcement and the timing of his surgery do reasonably raise reasonably serious concerns for Leo. We don’t know, and this isn’t to say anyone has the right to expect to know, when the routine medical checks made this discovery. It could have been last week, last month, or even earlier. As such, it isn’t really possible to say with what kind of urgency Leo is being brought in for surgery. However, there is clearly some serious urgency to the matter. Leo making the announcement and going into hospital this week, of all weeks, means he is having to miss the balance and conclusion of his global meeting of the heads of the world’s bishops conferences, which he convened in Rome this week. That, as the Vatican has announced, has meant some serious changes to the schedule, with the newly minted dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Tagle, subbing in for the closing Mass on Wednesday, and the meeting’s organizers announcing that the final working document/summary of the meeting being delayed until Leo can read and feed into it. Those changes suggest that the timing of Leo’s surgery isn’t of his own choosing, and he is acting on the best medical advice he can get by moving urgently. Had this issue been discovered weeks ago, it seems reasonable to assume the pope would have seen it dealt with before the meeting began. And were it possible to delay it, even by a few days to allow the meeting to conclude as scheduled, the expectation would surely be he’d have opted for that. It cannot be excluded that Leo is simply having to fit in with the schedules of his medical team, but a man who occupies arguably the most important and prominent role in Italy, if not Western Europe, could generally be assumed to be the one whose calendar others work around. All this points to a very recent medical discovery leading to a “days matter” diagnosis, or at least suspected possible diagnosis. Of course, another factor weighing in the balance is Leo’s upcoming apostolic visit to three South American countries, including a return to Peru, where he spent many years as a priest and bishop. It is entirely possible that the doctors, and the pope himself, are more concerned about the potential knock-on effects of surgery, and the time needed for recovery, for a 71-year-old — even one as physically sound and actively sporty as Leo. The pope is due to depart Rome November 6 for his 10-day three-country trip, returning on Nov. 17. It may be that Leo has simply made the decision to allow maximum time for his own post-op recovery, and even allow for potentially unforeseen circumstances, so that he is at full strength for the landmark trip. While it might be an inconvenience, and clearly a last-minute wrench in the works for the Amoris meeting, it is possible that Leo simply weighs the importance of that conference more lightly in the balance than even the possibility of missing his homecoming trip to Peru, or even having to scale back his itinerary for the trip. If that is the case, it would suggest a real abundance of caution by the pope approaching his Latin American tour, and a sobering indication of where Leo ranks the non-synodal meeting currently underway in Rome. In any event, what can be said for certain is that the pope having to take this, of all weeks, out of his schedule for surgery and an extended hospital stay is extremely unfortunate timing. It is clear that this is a decision Leo has made on the advice of his doctors. Together, they clearly consider that the risks of delaying, even by a little as a few days, represents an unacceptable risk for the pope. Even expecting and allowing for Leo’s full and speedy recovery, that should be a very sobering thought for Catholics everywhere. Subscribe