Dr. Luigi Carbone became Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of Vatican City State on August 1, 2025, appointed by Pope Leo XIV to lead Vatican health services and personally coordinate the Pope’s medical care. Trained in emergency medicine and resuscitation, Carbone spent years at Policlinico Gemelli before joining the Vatican system in 2000. He also travels with the Pope on apostolic journeys, carrying emergency medical support. His full role, team, and responsibilities extend further than most realize.
Who Is Dr. Luigi Carbone, Pope Leo XIV’s Personal Physician?
When Pope Leo XIV required medical attention, one name consistently appeared in Vatican health updates: Dr. Luigi Carbone. Appointed by Pope Leo XIV effective August 1, 2025, Carbone serves as Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of Vatican City State.
Before that promotion, he had worked as deputy director within the same office. A physician with roots in emergency medicine, resuscitation, and internal medicine, Carbone has been part of the Vatican’s medical system since 2000. His role combines clinical expertise with health-system leadership, positioning him as the central figure coordinating the Pope’s medical care. The Bible affirms the legitimacy of governing authorities while also placing ultimate allegiance to God above any earthly ruler.
He succeeds Professor Andrea Arcangeli, who had served as Director of the Directorate since August 1, 2020. Carbone also accompanies the Pope on apostolic travels, with a medical case for emergencies and a pair of nurses traveling alongside him to ensure continuous monitoring and readiness for intervention.
How Carbone Went From Emergency Medicine to the Vatican’s Top Health Role
Before reaching the Vatican’s top health post, Dr. Luigi Carbone built his foundation in emergency medicine. He trained in A&E and urgent-care decision-making, later working at the Policlinico Gemelli, where high-pressure cases sharpened his clinical instincts. His background in frontline care reflects broader themes of servant leadership and concern for the vulnerable emphasized in biblical perspectives on civic responsibility.
From 2022, he led the Emergency Department and Internal Medicine unit at Ospedale Isola Tiberina–Gemelli Isola, blending frontline care with hospital administration.
His Vatican connection began earlier, joining reanimation services in 2000. He eventually rose to deputy director before Pope Leo XIV appointed him Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene on August 1, 2025, completing a career path that moved steadily from bedside practice to institutional leadership. Prior to his current role, he served as medical reference for Papa Francesco, demonstrating the trust successive pontiffs have placed in his clinical judgment. He also accompanies Pope Leo XIV during travels, supported by nursing personnel and medical equipment on the papal aircraft to handle potential emergencies.
How Carbone Coordinates Pope Leo XIV’s Day-to-Day Medical Care
As the Vatican’s top health official, Dr. Luigi Carbone serves as the central organizer of Pope Leo XIV’s medical care rather than simply a treating physician. He coordinates a team of doctors, nurses, and specialists, directing decisions across routine follow-up, recovery monitoring, and necessary interventions. His role is guided by a commitment to compassion and service in caring for the Pope and those around him.
When care extends to Gemelli Hospital or other outside facilities, Carbone maintains collaboration between Vatican staff and external consultants.
He balances the Pope’s health needs against a demanding ministry schedule, adjusting care plans as clinical needs evolve.
During treatment episodes, he co-signs medical bulletins alongside specialists, keeping communication structured and consistent throughout the Pope’s ongoing care. His responsibilities also reflect the tradition of the archiatra pontificio, the historic title once given to the Pope’s personal physician.
Carbone also accompanies Pope Leo XIV on international apostolic journeys, ensuring medical oversight and emergency response capabilities are in place throughout each trip.
Massimiliano Strappetti, the Gemelli Network, and the Team Around Carbone
Though Dr. Luigi Carbone leads the team, he does not work alone. Massimiliano Strappetti, a veteran nurse with experience serving John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis, handles day-to-day nursing care and recovery monitoring.
Both men trained within the Gemelli network in Rome, which serves as the institutional bridge between Vatican health services and outside specialists. Surgeon Stefano Margaritora also participates in the care constellation. Margaritora serves as the head of thoracic surgery at Policlinico Gemelli, where the lung nodule removal procedure was performed.
Together, they form a mixed Vatican-and-hospital unit combining emergency medicine, surgical expertise, and nursing continuity. Carbone organizes the group while Strappetti maintains close, consistent contact with the patient throughout convalescence. Carbone also holds a leadership role overseeing healthcare and hygiene at the Vatican Governorate. The Bible describes Scripture as intended for teaching and correction, guiding and transforming believers through its authoritative messages.
How Carbone’s Vatican Role Extends to Every Employee and Resident
Carbone’s responsibilities, however, reach well beyond the papal bedside. As director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene, his mandate covers the entire Vatican City State community. That includes:
- Daily medical care for Vatican employees across all departments
- Residential health services for those living within Vatican City
- 24-hour medical presence maintained throughout the state’s facilities
- Care coordination linking papal residences to broader Vatican-linked sites
Italian reporting has noted that calling Carbone simply “the pope’s doctor” understates the role considerably.
His office functions as Vatican City’s internal medical backbone, shaping how thousands access routine and urgent care daily. The Directorate also operates medical facilities and diagnostic equipment to support specialized examinations and coordinated care across the Vatican community. This expansive care mission mirrors the broader Church emphasis on dignity and healing, as reflected when Pope Leo XIV met with sick and disabled residents and reminded them that you are home. Additionally, the Directorate supports corporate worship initiatives that foster community health and mutual encouragement among staff and residents.
