Pope Leo XIV has canceled his planned trip to Assisi next week following advice from his medical team as he continues to recover from lung cancer surgery, the Holy See Press Office announced on Friday.
The 71-year-old pontiff was scheduled to travel by helicopter to the historic Umbrian hill town on Tuesday, October 27, to participate in an international interfaith gathering themed “Disarmed and Disarming Peace”.
The three-day event, running from Sunday, October 25, through Tuesday, October 27, marks the 40th anniversary of the landmark World Day of Prayer for Peace initiated by Saint John Paul II in 1986. It will bring together 384 representatives of various religions, cultures, and international institutions from 53 countries.
According to a medical bulletin released Friday morning by the Holy See Press Office, the decision to cancel the trip was made as a purely precautionary measure.
Dr. Luigi Carbone, the Pope’s personal physician, and Professor Stefano Margaritora, the lead thoracic surgeon at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, confirmed that a scheduled follow-up chest X-ray showed the pontiff’s post-operative progress is “progressing exceptionally well”.
However, given that less than two weeks have passed since the operation, the medical team strongly advised against the physical strain of helicopter travel to ensure uninterrupted healing ahead of his demanding multi-country trip to Latin America scheduled for November 6–17.
Pope Leo underwent a 90-minute thoracic operation on Tuesday, October 13, to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after being diagnosed with localized pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer.
Pathology reports released earlier this week confirmed that the cancerous tumor was completely excised, requiring no further chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Discharged from Gemelli Hospital last Saturday, the Pope has slowly resumed his public duties at the Vatican, leading the weekly general audience in Saint Peter’s Square on Wednesday.
Although the Pope will not attend the closing ceremonies in Assisi in person, the Holy See confirmed he will send a written message to be read before the delegates and guests gathered at the UmbriaFiere complex and regional historical venues.
Vatican officials emphasized that Pope Leo remains deeply committed to the “spirit of Assisi,” viewing interreligious dialogue and peaceful diplomacy as vital resources in addressing contemporary global conflicts.
