Pope Leo XIV will not travel to Assisi, Italy, on October 27 to attend an international interreligious peace meeting, following medical advice to allow more time for recovery from recent lung surgery, the Holy See Press Office announced Friday, Vatican News reported.
The pope had been scheduled to attend the “Unarmed and Disarming Peace” meeting, organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio from October 25 to 27. The gathering marks the 40th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace convened by St. John Paul II in Assisi in 1986.
“ 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 Holy See Press Office said.
The pope will send a message expressing his closeness to the organizers, leaders and representatives of Christian denominations and other religions, and other participants.
The statement said Pope Leo remains convinced that dialogue inspired by the “Spirit of Assisi” and the search for words and gestures of peace are valuable resources in an age of conflict.
The decision followed a scheduled follow-up chest X-ray, which confirmed that the pope’s postoperative recovery was progressing very well. His doctors, Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora, nevertheless advised against the planned helicopter journey as a precaution because little time had passed since the surgery.
Pope Leo underwent surgery on October 13 to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. His doctors said afterward that the operation had removed all the malignant lung adenocarcinoma and that further treatment was unnecessary.
The Assisi meeting will bring together 384 representatives of religions, cultures and institutions from 53 countries, according to the report. Its 24 thematic forums will address conflict, disarmament, migration, poverty, young people and the role of religions in building peace.
Assisi, a historic town in Italy’s Umbria region, is closely associated with St. Francis of Assisi and has become an important venue for interreligious dialogue since St. John Paul II invited religious leaders from around the world to pray for peace there in 1986.
The Community of Sant’Egidio has continued that tradition through international interreligious meetings held annually in different cities. The 2026 gathering’s theme, “Unarmed and Disarming Peace,” highlights efforts to promote dialogue and overcome violence through cooperation among religious and civic communities.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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