By Karim Hammam
Pope Leo XIV has begun a 12-day tour of Latin America, telling reporters he is in "pretty good health" three weeks after undergoing surgery for lung cancer. The 71-year-old pontiff arrived in Uruguay on Friday, the first stop of a journey that also includes Argentina and Peru.
Health update after surgery
The Pope said he never doubted the trip would proceed, crediting his medical team for a successful operation last month that removed a tumour. Doctors confirmed the cancer has not spread. "Thanks to the marvellous medical staff... I believe I am in quite good health," he told journalists aboard the papal plane.
Tour itinerary and significance
The tour covers more than 20,000 miles and marks Pope Leo's sixth international trip. After Uruguay, he will travel to Argentina, the homeland of his predecessor Pope Francis, who never returned there during his papacy. The visit to Peru is described by the Vatican as a "homecoming" because the Pope served there for many years as a missionary and later as a bishop.
Call for universal healthcare
In his first speech in Montevideo's Plaza Independencia, Pope Leo said universal healthcare should be "accessible to everyone." He reflected on the care he received, noting it made him think of "many men and women who lack the means to obtain a timely diagnosis" or treatment. He concluded the day with a prayer at the Montevideo Cathedral.
