The Holy See Press Office reported on Monday that Leo XIV continues his post-operative recovery at the Vatican Apostolic Palace. The Pontiff underwent surgery on October 13 at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic to remove a lung adenocarcinoma and was discharged on Saturday the 17th, after five days of hospitalization following the operation, according to Vatican News.
His first public appearance after leaving the hospital took place yesterday, Sunday, on the occasion of the recitation of the Angelus, which drew thousands of faithful to St. Peter’s Square, according to Vatican media.
General audience confirmed, “for the time being”
The next meeting with the faithful will be the general audience on Wednesday in St. Peter’s Square. The Press Office has confirmed it, although with the express reservation that it is “for the time being.” No further details have been provided about its development, nor even whether the Pope will make the usual ride in the popemobile among the pilgrims before the catechesis.
Without the weekly rest in Castel Gandolfo
Leo XIV will also not travel to Castel Gandolfo this week. Since the beginning of his pontificate, the Pope has made it a custom to go to the Castelli Romani residence on Mondays and return on Tuesday evening, to work and rest. The recovery of this practice, abandoned during the pontificate of Francis, was one of the gestures that marked the first months of Leo XIV.
Today and tomorrow he will remain in the Vatican. According to Stefano Margaritora, the surgeon who operated on him, told Vatican media, convalescence could last about ten days.
Questions about the visit to Assisi
The Holy See has announced that it will provide new information about the pontifical agenda in the coming hours and days. For the moment, there is no forecast regarding the trip to Assisi, scheduled for November 27, with which the Pope was expected to close the meeting “Unarmed and Disarming Peace,” organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio to commemorate the forty years of the so-called “Spirit of Assisi.”
The title of the meeting echoes an expression of Leo XIV himself, who in his first greeting from the balcony of St. Peter’s, on May 8, 2025, spoke of a peace that is “unarmed and disarming.” The event commemorates the forty years of the World Day of Prayer for Peace convened by John Paul II in Assisi in October 1986, which for the first time brought together representatives of different religions to pray together for peace.