Vatican confirms Pope’s Latin America travel plans despite operation

The Prefecture of the Papal Household announced the cancellation of all papal audiences until 20 October, but medical specialists said a healthy patient could expect to resume their normal activities after surgery such as Pope Leo’s.

The Pope’s plans to travel to Latin America remain unchanged despite his cancer diagnosis, according to the Holy See.

During an operation at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday afternoon to remove a growth on his lung, doctors diagnosed Pope Leo with a pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday following a further medical statement, the director of the Holy See Press Office Matteo Bruni confirmed Leo’s “desire” to make the apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru on 6-17 November.

After reporting in the morning that the Pope had passed a peaceful night in hospital, the Holy See issued a statement from the Vatican’s chief medical officer and the surgeon Professor Stefano Margaritora.

Pope Loe had undergone blood tests and X-rays, they said, which “confirmed a normal post-operative recovery: the results are within the normal range for the type of surgery undergone”.

The statement continued: “The Holy Father underwent respiratory physiotherapy and has started to walk in his room. He has resumed a regular diet and ate breakfast and lunch.”

On Monday, the Prefecture of the Papal Household announced the cancellation of all papal audiences until 20 October, raising doubts about future engagements, but medical specialists said a healthy patient could expect to resume their normal activities after surgery such as the Pope’s.

The Holy See also reported that Pope Leo had concelebrated Mass on Wednesday in a specially prepared room in the Gemelli Hospital.

He had been due to preside at a Mass in St Peter’s Square for the conclusion of the meeting of episcopal conference presidents and heads of Eastern Catholic Churches marking the tenth anniversary of the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia.

“I thank you warmly for your prayers and for the work you have done together,” he said in a message to those taking part. “Your sharing of experiences and attentive listening are indeed a gift to the whole Church.”

Cardinal Luis Antonia Tagle, the Dean of the College of Cardinals and pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, celebrated the Mass in the Pope’s place and delivered his homily, reflecting on the “riches” of the document that show how “the true joy of love is a gradual deepening of union”.

“The world has no future without strong families open to the gift of children and attentive to their education and growth,” he said.

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