Pope Leo XIV will not make his scheduled visit to Assisi on October 27 in order to “aid his recovery” following his recent thoracic surgery, according to the Holy See Press Office. The Pope will instead send a message to express his closeness to the organizers and attendees of the “Unarmed and Disarming Peace” meeting, which marks the 40th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace convened in the Italian city by Pope St. John Paul II. “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,” read the statement. The Press Office 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 an age 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 “postoperative recovery is progressing very well.” “However, given the short time that has elapsed since the surgery, his doctors advised against the planned helicopter journey on October 27 as a precaution,” they noted in the statement released on Friday by the Holy See Press Office.

Pope Leo welcomed members of the American Jewish Committee in the Vatican this morning and recalled their shared commitment to promoting human dignity and to rejecting all forms of hatred and discrimination.

At his first Wednesday General Audience after having undergone surgery, Pope Leo XIV thanks everyone for their prayers and encourages the faithful to renew their trust in the goodness and mercy of God.

Reflection by Pope Leo XIV: "For all the emphasis on individual freedom, people today frequently feel less free to be their genuine selves or follow their highest ideals, out of a hidden fear of being judged or of not fitting in. Moreover, this loss of openness to others, which exacerbates a sense of disunity, ultimately deprives us of the happiness for which we were created, since we are made in the image of the Triune God, who is himself a communion of persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In revealing the heart of the Father, Christ shows us the deepest meaning of our existence, of our relationships, and the path to happiness." (Address to bishops who are friends of the Focolare Movement - September 9, 2026)

Pope Leo XIV will hold his weekly General Audience on Wednesday, October 21, in St. Peter's Square, according to the Holy See Press Office.

Pope Leo XIV's doctors announced on Saturday morning that Pope Leo XIV is fit to be discharged from Gemelli Hospital. In a statement from the Holy See Press Office, Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora said the Pope underwent blood tests and a chest X-ray in the morning, which confirm that his clinical condition allows for him to leave hospital. The Holy See Press Office said he will return to the Vatican on Saturday afternoon and pray the Angelus on Sunday from the window of the papal apartment.

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass at noon on Friday in the room set up on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital, according to the Holy See Press Office. Several members of Gemelli's medical and nursing staff attended the Mass, along with members of the Vatican City State Gendarmerie Corps. "In his homily, the Pope thanked all the staff—doctors, nurses, and orderlies—for the work they do every day caring for patients in their frailty, and especially for what they have done and continue to do for him," read the statement.