Pope Leo XIV will not make his planned visit to Assisi on October 27 on the advice of his doctors, who confirm that his recovery is going very well after his recent thoracic operation. Vatican News The Holy See Press Office announced on Friday that Pope Leo XIV will not be able to attend the “Peace unarmed and unarmed” meeting in Assisi on October 27. “To aid his recovery after the thoracic surgery he underwent on Tuesday of last week, Pope Leo “The meeting marks the 40th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace convened by Saint John Paul II.” According to the Holy See Press Office, the Pope will send a message expressing his closeness to the “organizers, leaders and representatives of Christian confessions and other religions, as well as the attending guests.” The statement assured everyone that the Holy Father remains convinced “that the ‘Spirit of Assisi’ dialogue and the search for words and gestures of peace are valuable resources in a time of conflict.” At the same time, Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora said the Holy Father underwent a scheduled follow-up chest X-ray, which confirmed that his “post-operative recovery is progressing very well.” “The Holy Father underwent a follow-up chest x-ray as planned. The examination confirmed that his post-operative recovery is progressing very well. However, given the short time that has passed since the surgery, his doctors advised against the helicopter trip scheduled for October 27 as a precaution,” they say in the statement released on Friday by the Press Office of the Holy See. The announcement follows Pope Leo XIV’s Oct. 13 surgery in which the lower lobe of his right lung was removed. The Pope’s doctors said Wednesday that the surgery removed all of the malignant lung adenocarcinoma and that subsequent tests confirmed that “no additional treatment is necessary.” ‘Peace unarmed and unarmed’ The Assisi peace meeting was organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio and will take place from October 25 to 27. It marks the 40th anniversary of the historic World Day of Prayer for Peace called by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1986. Since then, the Community of Saint Egidio has carried forward the “Spirit of Assisi” through annual interfaith gatherings throughout Europe and beyond. This year’s event, titled “Unarmed and Unarmed Peace,” is expected to bring together 384 representatives of religions, cultures and institutions from 53 countries. Its 24 thematic forums will address topics including conflict, disarmament, migration, poverty, youth and the role of religions in building peace.
