The key facts

  • Pope Leo XIV cancelled his trip to Assisi on Tuesday on doctors' advice due to recovery from chest surgery.
  • Instead of attending in person, he will send a message to the organizers and religious leaders at the 'Disarmed and Disarming Peace' meeting.
  • Doctors reported good recovery based on a follow-up X-ray; no further treatment for lung cancer is required.

Cancellation of the Assisi visit

Pope Leo XIV will skip his planned trip to Assisi next week: according to Vatican officials, doctors advised him not to make the helicopter journey in order to 'ease the recovery' after the chest surgery he underwent last week. The trip had been scheduled for Tuesday and was to be part of an event marking the 40th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace, established by John Paul II.

A message instead of personal attendance

Instead of attending in person, the Pope will send a message to the organizers of the meeting titled 'Disarmed and Disarming Peace,' as well as to Christian and other religious leaders and guests. The Vatican noted that Leo XIV wants to express his closeness to the participants and reaffirm the conviction that the 'spirit of Assisi,' dialogue, and the search for words and gestures of peace remain valuable resources in an era of conflict. The meeting in Assisi is dedicated to the interreligious peace gathering convened by John Paul II in 1986.

The Pope's health condition

In a separate statement, the Pope's doctors reported that a follow-up chest X-ray confirmed good recovery. However, given the short time since the surgery, they recommended, as a precaution, foregoing the helicopter trip to Assisi. Last week, part of one of the Pope's lungs was removed — the first serious health episode in the 17 months of his pontificate. The surgery confirmed the presence of an adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. According to the Vatican, tests showed the disease was localized, and the Pope will not require further treatment for lung cancer.