Pope Leo XIV will not attend a peace gathering in Assisi, Italy, on October 27 following doctors’ advice as he recovers from lung surgery, the Vatican said on Friday.
The Vatican announced that the Pope would miss the “Disarmed and Disarming Peace” meeting to allow him more time to recover from surgery performed the previous Tuesday.
“To support recovery following last Tuesday’s thoracic surgery, and following the doctors’ advice, Pope Leo XIV will not be able to attend the ‘Disarmed and Disarming Peace’ meeting in Assisi on October 27th,” the Vatican said in a statement.
The event, marking the 40th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace, will proceed as scheduled, with the Pope sending a message to participants.
In a separate statement, the Pope’s doctors, Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora, said a chest X-ray showed “excellent progress of the post-operative recovery” but advised against the planned helicopter trip to Assisi.
“Considering the short time since the surgery, the attending doctors thought it prudent, as a precaution, to advise against the scheduled helicopter trip on October 27,” they said.
The 71-year-old pontiff was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Saturday, five days after undergoing surgery to remove the lower part of his right lung, where doctors had detected a cancerous nodule.
His doctors said on Wednesday that no further treatment was required following the successful operation, adding that the cancer had been detected at a localised stage.
On Sunday, Leo said he would gradually resume his duties as he continued his recovery.
Doctors have also indicated that there is no medical reason to prevent the Pope from undertaking his planned visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17. Leo lived in Peru for two decades.
The Pope last visited Assisi in August during an event attended by thousands of young people from across Europe. The Italian town is marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis this year.
According to the Vatican, the peace gathering will bring together 384 representatives of religions, cultures and institutions from 53 countries.
