Pope Leo XIV launches 12-day South American tour following lung cancer surgery

Pope Leo XIV has commenced a 12-day apostolic journey across South America, visiting Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The trip begins three weeks after the 71-year-old head of the Catholic Church underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his lung. Despite the recent medical procedure, Vatican officials confirmed that the Pope is in good health and has received the all-clear to travel without requiring special medical measures beyond standard papal care.

The schedule is characterized as one of the most demanding papal overseas journeys in recent history, featuring numerous long-distance and regional flights that traverse thousands of miles from the Amazon basin to the Andes. Pope Leo expressed his desire to revisit nations he considers very close to his heart, hoping the journey will bolster religious conviction, restore optimism, and reignite charitable love in areas struggling with increasing inequality, violence, and population shrinkage.

Background

Pope Leo’s connection to South America is deeply personal, as he served as a missionary in Peru for almost two decades, forming a strong attachment to the continent. This journey is viewed by some experts as a double homecoming, particularly in Argentina, the homeland of his predecessor, Pope Francis. Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, never returned to his native country during his papacy, a fact that disappointed many Argentinians. Father Fernando Laguna, rector of the Argentine national church in Rome, noted that the announcement of Pope Leo’s visit filled hearts with joy, describing it as an homage to Francis.

The Pope’s health concerns arose after doctors discovered a tumour during a routine scan in October. The tumor was excised together with the lower section of his right lung, after which his doctors verified that the malignancy had not metastasized. A Vatican spokeswoman described the Pope as having "fantastic stamina" and being "extremely enthusiastic" about the schedule, which he personally confirmed without changes. Professor Massimo Faggioli of Villanova University commented that the Vatican’s message is that the surgery was a short episode and that the Pope is back on track, pointing to his recent public appearances and speeches as evidence of his good form.

Why it matters

The visit carries significant political and social weight in each country. In Uruguay, Latin America’s most secular and one of its wealthiest nations, the Pope is receiving a tight security operation involving approximately 5,000 police officers and 1,000 soldiers. Uruguay is at odds with the Catholic Church on issues such as same-sex marriage, abortion, and euthanasia, the latter of which was legalised last year. The Pope is expected to appeal for the protection of life and traditional family values. Furthermore, Uruguay records the greatest suicide rate in Latin America, and the Pontiff is set to tour the Casavalle district of Montevideo, a community marked by significant destitution and aggression, where he might discuss psychological well-being concerns.

In Argentina, the trip is seen as politically sensitive. President Javier Milei has had notable interactions with the papacy, and the visit includes meetings with heads of state and religious events. The decline of Catholicism in the region, particularly in Uruguay where the number of Catholics has fallen steeply in recent years, adds another layer of significance to the Pope’s efforts to rekindle religious engagement. The trip also aims to address the broader challenges facing the region, including social inequality and the decline of traditional institutions.

What happens next

Pope Leo will commence his tour in Uruguay, where he intends to travel along the Montevideo harbor promenade aboard a specially constructed papal vehicle. He is scheduled to meet with left-wing President Yamandu Orsi and receive the keys to the city. Following his time in Uruguay, he will travel to Argentina on November 8, before concluding his journey in Peru. The Vatican has indicated that no further changes to the schedule are expected, and the Pope is set to continue his public engagements throughout the 12-day tour.