Pope Leo stood at the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, his voice firm despite the recent medical ordeal. He addressed the crowd directly, demanding an end to the hostilities in Yemen and pointing a finger at the southwestern city of Taiz. “The population suffers due to the lack of food, water and medical assistance,” the 71-year-old pontiff stated, making no attempt to soften the blow of his words. It was a stark departure from the usual diplomatic platitude, grounded in the immediate reality of starvation and medical neglect on the ground.
This appeal comes at a fragile moment for the Vatican. On October 13, surgeons removed the lower lobe of Leo’s right lung to treat adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. Doctors confirmed last week that the tumor had not spread and no further therapy is required. Yet, the physical toll remains visible; Leo reached the window without assistance on Sunday, waving to the faithful with a smile that masked the exhaustion of recovery.
The pontiff’s message extended beyond Yemen. He expressed shock over Friday’s attack on the Hamoud church in Jordan, labeling it a “terrorist attack against Orthodox faithful.” “I'm close to that community and the entire country, which is known for the peaceful and respectful coexistence of different religions,” he said. His condemnation of the Jordanian incident serves to broaden the scope of his peace campaign, linking regional instability with direct threats to religious communities.
Leo had intended to attend a gathering of religious leaders in Assisi, Italy, scheduled for Tuesday. The Vatican announced on Friday that he cancelled the trip on doctors’ advice to prioritize his recovery. The meeting will proceed without him, but his absence is symbolic. He is sending prayers from Rome instead, urging the world to listen to the silent screams of those trapped in Taiz.