Pope Leo XIV cancels Assisi trip on doctors' advice as he recovers from surgery

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV will miss a planned trip to Assisi next week after doctors advised against the helicopter journey to the Italian town as he recovers from thoracic surgery, the Vatican said Friday.

The pope had been due to attend a gathering on Tuesday marking the 40th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s World Day of Prayer for Peace.

In a statement, the Vatican said Leo, 71, was advised not to travel “to facilitate his recovery” from the surgery to treat his lung cancer last week. The pope will instead send a message to organizers, Christian and other religious leaders, and guests attending the event, titled “Disarmed and Disarming Peace.”

In a separate statement, the pope's doctors said a follow-up chest X-ray confirmed he was recovering well. However, given the short time that has elapsed since the operation, they recommended as a precaution that he not make the trip to Assisi by helicopter.

The Vatican said Leo wanted to express his closeness to participants and reaffirm his belief that the “spirit of Assisi,” dialogue and the search for words and gestures of peace remain valuable resources at a time of conflict.

The Assisi meeting commemorates the landmark interfaith peace gathering convened by St. John Paul II in 1986.

The cancellation is the latest change to Leo’s schedule since he had part of one lung removed last week in the first major health event of his 17-month pontificate. The surgery confirmed he had adenocarcinoma , the most common type of lung cancer.

The pope will need no further treatment for lung cancer after tests confirmed the disease was localized, the Vatican said Wednesday.

The Vatican has said the pope’s activities will be guided by medical advice during his recovery.

Leo returned to the Vatican last Saturday, as his surgeon said there are “no clinical reasons” to prevent a planned trip to Latin America next month.

Thoracic surgeons often advise patients not to fly for three weeks after surgery — which would give the pope just the interval needed to make his planned Nov. 6-17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, depending on his recovery.

The trip will involve a dozen flights and two helicopter rides to high altitudes.

In his public appearances since returning to the Vatican, Leo appeared in good health, speaking with a strong and clear voice.