Pope Leo Confirms Three-Nation South American Tour After Lung Surgery

The Vatican confirmed on October 26 that Pope Leo will proceed with his planned tour of South America. The 71-year-old pontiff will visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru between November 6 and 17. This announcement follows his successful surgery to remove a lung tumor in Rome on October 13. The Vatican stated that the Pope is looking forward to the trip with great joy and enthusiasm.

Pope Leo announced his diagnosis during his weekly Sunday prayers in St. Peter's Square on October 11. He told the crowd that doctors had found a nodule on his lung that was well-contained and caught at an early stage. The surgery lasted 90 minutes, and the Pope was discharged from Gemelli hospital in Rome on October 17. His surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, said the cancer was localized and that the Pope was in an absolutely satisfactory clinical condition with no clinical reasons to cancel the tour.

The itinerary covers 10 cities across three nations. The tour begins in Uruguay on November 8, where the Pope will visit Montevideo and other key cities. He will then move to Argentina from November 11 to 17, including a stop in Buenos Aires. The final leg of the trip involves six days in Peru, where roughly 76 percent of the population identifies as Catholic. Stops in Peru will include Lima, Chiclayo, Cuzco, and Pucallpa.

Peru’s Cardinal Castillo, the Archbishop of Lima, said the trip will include young people, women who run community kitchens, and members of indigenous communities. Castillo noted the Pope's close ties to Chiclayo, where the pontiff lived for several years. The Catholic Church sent Leo to Peru as a missionary in 1985 when he was 30 years old. He joined the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas and later the mission in Trujillo. He held Peruvian citizenship and worked between the United States and Peru for almost three decades.

Since his operation, the Pope has been resting and gradually resuming his work. The Vatican said he is adjusting his daily schedule in consultation with doctors to prioritize recovery while fulfilling his ministry. The Vatican also announced that Leo would cancel a planned trip to Assisi on October 27 on the recommendation of his doctors. The Vatican expressed deep gratitude for the prayers and affection the Pope has received from around the world.