Despite the fact that Pope Leo XIV is recovering properly from lung most cancers surgical procedure and goes forward with a giant journey to Latin America subsequent week, the analysis is “a little bit of a game-changer” for the Vatican and Leo’s still-young papacy, a high Vatican official mentioned Tuesday.
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s international minister, mentioned there had been a temptation to assume that Leo was a “Superman, a Superpope” after he was elected in 2025 and “hit the bottom operating” following the drawn-out sickness and dying of Pope Francis.
“The truth that he has fallen unwell with, in some ways, one of the crucial frequent diseases of our age means that he’s a poor mortal like the remainder of us. And I feel that that’s going to alter how we see him and probably how he sees himself as properly,” Gallagher instructed reporters on the Italian international press affiliation.
“Even when the operation has gone properly, and all people (says) there are grounds for appreciable optimism, I feel it’s a little bit of a game-changer on the similar time,” Gallagher mentioned.
Leo, 71, had the decrease lobe of his proper lung eliminated Oct. 13 after docs discovered a tumor, later identified as adenocarcinoma, the most typical type of lung most cancers. Subsequent checks indicated no additional remedy is critical, and Leo has been slowly resuming his each day actions.
The Vatican this week confirmed Leo would go forward together with his deliberate Nov. 6-17 journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, with none modifications to this system. The revealed journey itinerary is difficult even for a wholesome pope, with a dozen flights and two helicopter rides masking 19,000 miles, the longest of Leo’s preach.
Requested why Leo didn’t postpone the journey so he might get better additional, Gallagher mentioned the pope merely wished to go. Leo spent 20 years as a missionary priest in Peru, the place he has citizenship, and has made clear his shut attachment to its individuals and his former diocese of Chiclayo.
“All the medical recommendation may be very optimistic, from a scientific viewpoint, so he feels he can go,” he mentioned.
A visit to the U.S. on the horizon
Gallagher, a British veteran of the Vatican’s diplomatic service, additionally predicted that the Chicago-born Leo would within the “not-too-distant future” go to his native United States. However he mentioned the end result of subsequent month’s midterm elections may affect whether or not the journey is available in 2027 or later.
The Vatican usually tries to keep away from papal journeys to nations within the throes of nationwide election campaigns to keep away from permitting the governing powers to make use of the pope for political profit. U.S. presidential elections are scheduled for November 2028.
Preliminary discussions on an eventual U.S. journey have included timing it to coincide with the U.N. Normal Meeting gathering within the fall, or alongside a attainable cease in Mexico, although Gallagher confused that no agency plans are in place.
“He’s, I feel, fairly eager to go to the shrine of Our Girl of Guadalupe sooner or later,” Gallagher mentioned, referring to the immensely standard Mexico Metropolis basilica that may be a main pilgrimage vacation spot the place previous popes have visited.
Gallagher additionally mentioned it was “extremely possible” that Leo would journey to Australia in 2028 to shut out a giant church assembly in Sydney, the Worldwide Eucharistic Congress. Different huge journeys anticipated are to South Korea in August 2027 for World Youth Day.
Baris Seckin/Anadolu through Getty Pictures
Baris Seckin/Anadolu through Getty Pictures Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and Worldwide Organizations, speaks throughout an unique interview in Rome, Italy on October 27, 2026.
A pensive pope who retains his playing cards tight
Gallagher, who served as international minister beneath Pope Francis as properly, shared some insights about working with Leo after the generally turbulent Francis preach, which was characterised by the Argentine pope’s spontaneity, grand gestures and occasional diplomatic gaffes.
Leo, he mentioned, is pensive, thinks issues by way of and is “not impetuous.” The maths main pope can learn a spreadsheet and is extraordinarily well-informed, asking follow-up questions, such that when Gallagher meets with him every Wednesday night to transient him on urgent international coverage points, “practically every little thing I say he is aware of already.”
On the similar time, Leo is tight-lipped and holds his playing cards shut. Gallagher revealed he didn’t learn about Leo’s deliberate surgical procedure till the pope introduced it to the world on Oct. 11 at his weekly Sunday blessing. He mentioned he nonetheless doesn’t actually know what the pope is considering down the road.
“I feel he’ll stick with his plan. And he’ll stick with revealing his plan, as a result of he’s not the form of character who shares rather a lot in what he’s considering of doing in three or 4 years’ time,” he mentioned.
Gallagher mentioned what has struck him most working with Leo is his serenity, give attention to preaching the Gospel and coping with points as they arrive alongside. And he rejected hypothesis that the Italian-centric Vatican forms would finally have its method and thwart his agenda.
“I don’t assume the Curia will eat him up. I feel if there’s any indication of that, he’ll show that he too has an urge for food,” Gallagher mentioned to laughs.
