Pope Leo has officially called off his upcoming October 27 trip to Assisi, Italy, as he continues to recuperate from recent lung surgery. The Vatican confirmed that the 71-year-old pontiff made the difficult decision on the advice of his medical team, specifically to avoid the physical strain of a helicopter journey. While his doctors report that his recovery is progressing excellently following the removal of his lower right lung on October 13, they are prioritizing his health and stability during this sensitive period.

Fortunately, the outlook remains positive, with medical reports confirming that the adenocarcinoma was localized and will not require additional follow-up cancer treatments. Since being discharged from the hospital, the Pope has begun easing back into his papal responsibilities, even making a public appearance at St. Peter’s Square earlier this week. It remains unclear, however, if this recent adjustment to his schedule will impact his planned tour of Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, which is currently slated for November.