By Basant El-Faramawy
Pope Leo XIV embarked on a demanding 12-day tour of South America on Friday, less than a month after undergoing surgery for lung cancer. The 71-year-old pontiff departed Rome’s Fiumicino Airport for a trip covering Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, spanning roughly 19,000 miles with nine Masses and multiple flights.
Health and recovery
The Vatican said Leo was treated last month for lung adenocarcinoma, a localized form of lung cancer, and doctors confirmed he would not need further treatment. Spokesperson Matteo Bruni stated the pope had recovered sufficiently that no additional medical measures would be required during the journey.
Itinerary across three nations
The tour begins in Uruguay, marking the first papal visit there since 1988. Leo will then spend three days in Argentina, where he is expected to meet President Javier Milei, before a six-day stay in Peru, where he served as bishop of Chiclayo until 2023 and is widely celebrated.
Addressing regional challenges
According to the Vatican, the pope will address environmental destruction, arms trafficking, and political instability across the continent, delivering a message of communion and unity. He also plans several meetings with survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy.
Historic visits and high-altitude stops
Uruguay, considered the region’s most secular country, recently legalized assisted dying despite church opposition. The Argentina leg is the first papal visit since John Paul II in 1987; Pope Francis, though Argentine, never returned as pontiff. In Peru, Leo will visit Lima and his former diocese in Chiclayo, as well as high-altitude locations in the Andes.
