POPE LEO XIV CANCELS ASSISI PEACE GATHERING TRIP ON DOCTORS’ ADVICE
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Agency Report
Pope Leo XIV will not attend a peace gathering in Assisi, Italy, on October 27 as he continues to recover from lung surgery, the Vatican said on Friday.
In a statement, the Vatican said the Pope would miss the “Disarmed and Disarming Peace” meeting on the advice of his doctors, who recommended that he avoid travelling so soon after last Tuesday’s thoracic surgery.
The gathering, marking the 40th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace, will proceed as scheduled, with Leo expected to send a message to participants.
In a separate statement published by the Vatican, the Pope’s doctors, Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora, said a chest X-ray showed “excellent progress of the post-operative recovery”.
However, they advised against the planned helicopter journey to Assisi, citing the short period since the operation.
“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.
Leo 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.
The Pope said on Sunday that he would gradually resume his duties as he continued his recovery.
Doctors have also said there is no medical reason to cancel his planned visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17. Leo lived in the region for two decades.
The pontiff last visited Assisi in August, when he attended an event involving 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. The event was established under Pope John Paul II.
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