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Pope Leo XIV Cancels Assisi Trip Due to Health
· Confirmed
In Short: Pope Leo XIV will skip a planned trip to Assisi next week after doctors advised against the helicopter journey due to his recovery from thoracic surgery, the Vatican announced Friday.
Pope Leo XIV will skip a planned trip to Assisi next week after doctors advised against the helicopter journey due to his recovery from thoracic surgery, the Vatican announced Friday. The Toronto Star (Canada) and WPTZ reported that 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 Independent (Ireland) and the Toronto Star (Canada) reported that 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 Independent noted that the pope will instead send a message to organizers, Christian and other religious leaders, and guests attending the event, titled: “Disarmed and Disarming Peace.”
The Toronto Star (Canada) and WPTZ reported that the pope had been due to attend a gathering on Tuesday marking the 40th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s interfaith peace gathering. However, given the short time that has elapsed since the operation, doctors recommended as a precaution that he not make the trip to Assisi by helicopter.
The Toronto Star (Canada) and WPTZ reported that 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 Independent (Ireland) also reported that the pope will instead send a message to the organizers and attendees.
The Toronto Star (Canada) and WPTZ reported that the pope’s doctors said a follow-up chest X-ray confirmed he was recovering well. The Independent (Ireland) reported that the 71-year-old had part of one lung removed last week in the first major health event of his 17-month pontificate.
The Toronto Star (Canada) and WPTZ reported that the Vatican said the pope will need no further treatment for lung cancer after tests confirmed the disease was localized. The Independent (Ireland) reported that the pope will instead send a message to organizers, Christian and other religious leaders, and guests attending the event.
The Toronto Star (Canada) and WPTZ reported that the Vatican has said the pope’s activities will be guided by medical advice during his recovery. The Independent (Ireland) reported that the pope will instead send a message to organizers, Christian and other religious leaders, and guests attending the event.
The Toronto Star (Canada) and WPTZ reported that the pope 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. The Independent (Ireland) reported that the pope will instead send a message to organizers, Christian and other religious leaders, and guests attending the event.
What this adds
The Vatican has not revealed exactly when Leo learned of his health concerns, although the examinations and preparations required for such an operation suggest that the decision was unlikely to have been made overnight. The pope followed every stage of the guidance on diet and physiotherapy, getting back on his feet and doing more than was asked of him.
Background
Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the surgeon who operated on Pope Leo XIV, told Vatican News that there are no clinical reasons to prevent the Pope from traveling to South America as scheduled from November 6 to 17.
Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the surgeon who operated on Pope Leo XIV, said there are no clinical reasons to prevent the Pope from traveling to South America as scheduled from November 6 to 17.
What's confirmed
- 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 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.
- 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 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.
- In a separate statement, the pope’s doctors said a follow-up chest X-ray confirmed he was recovering well.
- The pope had been due to attend a gathering on Tuesday marking the 40th anniversary of St.
- 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 Assisi meeting commemorates the landmark interfaith peace gathering convened by St.
- The pope will need no further treatment for lung cancer after tests confirmed the disease was localized, the Vatican said Wednesday.
- 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.
- The Vatican has said the pope’s activities will be guided by medical advice during his recovery.
What's still developing
- At Lourdes, he prayed at the grotto, spent time with sick pilgrims, celebrated Mass before some 150,000 people, and joined the torchlight procession.
- Launched in 2013, Aleteia is a free online daily news publication.
- The Vatican has not revealed exactly when Leo learned of his health concerns, although the examinations and preparations required for such an operation suggest that the decision was unlikely to have been made overnight.
- How much flexibility there was in setting the date is not clear.
- So when we look back at those extraordinary days in France, particularly his encounters with the sick at Lourdes, it's difficult not to feel an added affection for a Pope who gave so much of himself while facing an uncertain medical situation.
- At 71, Pope Leo XIV certainly gave the impression of having boundless energy during his recent visit to France.
- But what is certain is that October 13 has religious significance because of a fascinating connection to Our Lady.
- On October 13, 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared for the sixth and final time to three shepherd children at Fatima, Portugal.
- Margaritora called the pope 'an ideal patient' and said he expects Leo will be fully recovered and in shape to travel within the next '10 days or so.' South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere.
- As for a long trip involving air travel in about three weeks, I would say there are no clinical reasons why it should not take place.' The Vatican announced at 11:30 a.m. local time that the pope would be discharged, and he was deemed fit for discharge based on blood tests and a chest X-ray performed that morning.
- The pope followed every stage of the guidance on diet and physiotherapy, getting back on his feet and doing more than was asked of him.
- Yet barely two weeks later, on October 13, the Holy Father was undergoing surgery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital to remove a suspicious nodule from his lung, subsequently confirmed to be cancerous.
Sources
- Seattletimeslink
- The Journallink
- Toronto Starlink
- WPTZlink
- Warpbeatlink
- Seattletimeslink
- Independentlink
- WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo's Surgeon Clears Path for South America Trip link
- WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV's Surgeon Clears Path for South America Trip link
- Christianity Uncovered — video link