Vatican & World News 15.10.2026

Laudato a Jesus Christus, Vatican and World News.

In the headlines this Thursday, October 15th, Pope Leo continues to recover in hospital after doctors successfully removed a tumor from his right lung.

During the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the permanent observer of the Holy See to the UN addresses the need for disarmament to build peace.

And a school in Kazakhstan is nurturing intercultural understanding, interreligious dialogue, and technological skills to offer young people the confidence to shape their own future.

In the Vatican, I'm Kelsey Gussie.

The Holy See press office issued an update on Pope Leo XIV's recovery

following the surgery on his lung on Tuesday, October 13th at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.

Deborah Castellana-Luboff tells us more. On his third day in the hospital, Pope Leo XIV's doctors say his chest x-ray in the morning shows good recovery of the lung that underwent surgery.

Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritura have provided the following update on the Pope's post-operative recovery.

This morning, the Holy Father underwent routine checks, which yielded normal results.

The chest x-ray showed good recovery of the lung that underwent surgery.

He carried out his daily activities independently. His physiotherapy session included a full range of physical activities.

Overall, his postoperative recovery is progressing normally.

Earlier this morning, a message from the press office via telegram reported that the Pope had spent a good night in the hospital, that he had got up and had breakfast.

Today, the press office reports that the Holy Father Con

celebrated Mass, as he had done yesterday afternoon, in a room specifically set aside for this purpose on the 10th floor of Jameli's hospital, and that he has also resumed work activities.

Pope Leo XIV had underwent surgery at the hospital on Tuesday afternoon, during which doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung, as explained in a statement released by the press office that same evening.

The surgery was successful and there were no complications. I'm Debra Castellano-Lubov.

And students from a Catholic school in Pope Leo XIV's hometown of Chicago are preparing a care package for him as he recovers in hospital following the surgery.

Local media outlets reported on Wednesday that students at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy were planning to send the Pope items including get-well cards and a Chicago White Sox blanket.

The students are part of Team 14, a group of some 40 students named after Pope Leo XIV.

They went viral on social media after staging a mock conclave last year, and some of them subsequently traveled to Rome to meet with the Pope.

They have also been organizing monthly prayer and service meetings, including food drives to help the less fortunate.

One of the students said it feels nice to wish the Pope well because he feels like a close friend and I was really sad when I heard he was sick.

The ecclesial encounter 10 years after Morris Letizia proclaiming the gospel with families today, convened by Pope Leo XIV, to mark the

10th anniversary of the Apostolic Exhortation, concluded at the Vatican on Wednesday, October 14.

The Vatican had released a letter the Pope had written to the meeting's participants,

in which he said he would review the fruits of their work and discussions, and offer his own reflections in due course.

One of the speakers was Archbishop Charles Cicluna of Malta, who spoke to Vatican Radio about why he found the encounter to be particularly enlightening.

I go home to Malta with a sense

of gratitude for the experience of listening in to so many of my brother bishops and also families and lay people who are part of this experience.

I'm grateful to Pope Leo for convening this meeting.

What I also bring with me from this meeting is a renewed commitment to put the family at the center of the church's pastoral mission.

At the end of the day, Amoris Laetitia ten years ago

stimulated and provoked an invitation

for pastor conversion, an

attitude of listening to families before

judging and also discerning

situations with an open heart, seeking the will of God, but also facilitating the meeting with God's mercy, embracing people, finding them where they are.

and leading them to meet Jesus as a saviour.