Pope Leo XIV Launches 12-Day South American Tour Weeks After Cancer Surgery
Pope Leo XIV begins a 12-day trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru just four weeks after lung cancer surgery. The visit marks a historic return to the region.
POLICY WIRE — Montevideo, Uruguay — Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Uruguay to commence a demanding three-nation tour of South America, marking his first international journey since undergoing lung cancer surgery last month.
The 12-day itinerary includes stops in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, a country where the pontiff spent two decades of his religious career.
Vatican officials assured the public that the Pope is in good health and fully prepared to handle the rigorous schedule of the trip.
The tour, which the Vatican described as a homecoming, begins with a visit to Uruguay, widely regarded as the most secular and least Catholic nation in the region.
Upon landing in Montevideo after a 13½-hour flight from Rome, the Pope faces a packed three-day agenda during this sign of resilience following his recent medical procedures.
This visit represents a significant moment for the region, as it is the first papal visit to Uruguay in nearly four decades.
The trip began on Friday, signaling the Pope’s return to public life amid one of his toughest political and personal challenges.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
