Pope Leo XIV will not go to Assisi on 27 October: doctors advise against the helicopter journey after surgery
The Holy See Press Office: a follow-up chest X-ray "confirmed that his postoperative recovery is progressing very well", but his doctors advised against the journey "as a precaution". The Pope will send a message to the "Unarmed and Disarming Peace" meeting
Pope Leo XIV will not be in Assisi on Tuesday 27 October for the "Unarmed and Disarming Peace" meeting. The Holy See Press Office announced the decision today, citing his recovery from the thoracic surgery he underwent on 13 October.
The medical update. "The Holy Father underwent a follow-up chest X-ray as scheduled. The examination confirmed that his postoperative recovery is progressing very well. However, given the short time that has elapsed since the surgery, his doctors advised against the planned helicopter journey on October 27 as a precaution." According to Vatican News, the update came from doctors Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora.
A message for Assisi. "To aid his recovery following the thoracic surgery he underwent on Tuesday of last week, Pope Leo XIV will be unable to attend the 'Unarmed and Disarming Peace' meeting in Assisi on October 27, as planned," the statement reads. "The meeting marks the 40th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace convened by Saint John Paul II." The Pope will send a message expressing his closeness to the "organizers, the leaders and representatives of Christian denominations and other religions, and the guests attending", convinced "that the 'Spirit of Assisi' dialogue and the search for words and gestures of peace are valuable resources in an age of conflict."
The surgery and the histology. On 13 October Pope Leo XIV was operated on at the Gemelli hospital; according to Vatican News, the surgery removed the lower lobe of his right lung. On Wednesday 21 October his doctors announced the final histology result: a localized lung adenocarcinoma, completely removed, requiring no further treatment. Our earlier coverage:
vaticanreport.com/articolo/leo-xiv-after-lung-cancer-surgery-he-spent-a-good-night-630c?lang=en
vaticanreport.com/articolo/pope-leo-xiv-final-histology-localized-tumour-no-further-therapy?lang=en
The Sant'Egidio meeting. According to Vatican News, the meeting organized by the Community of Sant'Egidio takes place in Assisi from 25 to 27 October, 40 years after the World Day of Prayer for Peace convened by Pope John Paul II in 1986. It is expected to bring together 384 representatives of religions, cultures and institutions from 53 countries, with 24 thematic forums on conflict, disarmament, migration, poverty, young people and the role of religions in building peace. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, in Italy from today until 28 October, is expected at the closing ceremony on the 27th:
vaticanreport.com/articolo/bartholomew-i-italy-angelicum-loreto-assisi-pope-not-present?lang=en
What we don't know. The statement does not say who will read the Pope's message in Assisi or whether a representative will be sent. As of 09:46 Rome time, the text had not yet appeared in the Press Office's daily Bulletin.
Our flash from today:
vaticanreport.com/flash/5cfa4d83-2c7f-40f2-849b-f1e6456639a2?lang=en
Sources: Holy See Press Office statement, 23 October 2026 (Italian text posted by Matteo Matzuzzi on X and Andrea Tornielli on X) · Vatican News, 23 October 2026 · Vatican News on X
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Source: Sala Stampa della Santa Sede