Pope Leo XIV begins 12-day South America tour weeks after lung cancer surgery
Pope Leo XIV, 71, departed Rome on Friday for a 12-day, three-country tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, less than a month after surgery that removed a tumour and the lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican said the cancer had not spread and that no extraordinary medical measures would be taken during the roughly 19,000-mile trip, which includes a dozen flights, two helicopter rides and nine Masses. The tour opens in Uruguay, continues to Argentina, and ends with a "homecoming" to Peru, where the Chicago-born pontiff lived for decades and served as bishop of Chiclayo.
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Pope Leo XIV Begins Grueling South American Tour Weeks After Cancer Surgery
Pope Leo XIV, 71, departed Rome on Friday for a 12-day, three-country South American tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, covering roughly 19,000 miles with a dozen flights, two helicopter rides and nine Masses, less than a month after surgery for lung adenocarcinoma. The Vatican called it a "homecoming" to a region where the Chicago-born pontiff, also a Peruvian citizen, lived for decades and served as bishop of Chiclayo until 2023. Arriving first in Uruguay, the country's first papal visit since 1988, Leo said he never doubted the trip would go forward and credited trust in God, good doctors and a healthy lifestyle for his recovery, advising cancer patients not to be afraid and to seek early detection. He is expected to meet abuse survivors and address environmental destruction, arms trafficking and regional instability, then meet Argentina's President Javier Milei and visit Peru, including high-altitude stops in the Andes. Doctors said no further treatment is needed and the Vatican said no additional medical measures would be required during the trip.
Read sourcePope Leo XIV Begins 12-Day Latin America Tour, Faces Health Test After Surgery
Pope Leo XIV arrives in Latin America on Friday for a 12-day trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, a visit described as his breakout moment with predictions of the largest and most effusive crowds of his papacy. The trip is also a historic homecoming for the Chicago-born pontiff, who holds dual U.S.-Peruvian citizenship. Coverage from multiple outlets notes the tour comes weeks after lung cancer surgery and will take him above 11,000 feet, raising questions about his health. The visit is also expected to bring questions of faith and AI to Uruguay's Catholic University and presents one of his toughest political challenges.
Read sourcePope Leo XIV Returns to Peru as the Beloved 'Gringo' From Chiclayo
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, is returning to Peru on a 12-day South American tour that began in Uruguay and Argentina and reaches Peru on November 11. Peruvians in Chiclayo, where Prevost served as bishop for over two decades, celebrate him as 'one of us' despite his US origins. The article contrasts him with Donald Trump, noting his humility, his outreach during the COVID-19 pandemic, his learning of Quechua, and his criticism of the Fujimori era. Chiclayo has erected cardboard effigies, opened exhibitions, and launched a tourism route in his honor, hoping his visit brings economic relief. The pope, who recently had a tumor and part of his right lung removed, will address President Keiko Fujimori and lead what is expected to be the largest Mass on Peruvian soil.
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Pope Leo XIV begins 12-day Latin America trip three weeks after lung cancer surgery
Pope Leo XIV has started a 12-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, just three weeks after surgery to remove a lung tumor. The Vatican says the 71-year-old pope has recovered well and is enthusiastic about the demanding schedule, which includes long-haul flights and events from the Amazon to the Andes. The trip begins in Uruguay, where Catholic numbers have declined, then moves to Argentina, the homeland of predecessor Pope Francis, where President Javier Milei has welcomed the visit despite past criticism of Francis. The final leg is a highly anticipated homecoming to Peru, where Leo lived for nearly two decades and served as bishop of Chiclayo. The Vatican says he will meet survivors of clerical sexual abuse in all three countries. Analysts see the tour as a way to reconnect the papacy with Latin America after Francis.
Read sourcePope Leo begins 12-day Latin America trip three weeks after lung cancer surgery
Pope Leo XIV has begun a 12-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru just three weeks after surgery that removed a tumour and the lower lobe of his right lung; his medical team confirmed the cancer had not spread. The Vatican says no extraordinary health measures are being taken and describes the 71-year-old as having "fantastic stamina", with a spokeswoman saying he personally confirmed the schedule with no changes. The trip starts in Uruguay, which receives its first papal visit in four decades, then moves to Argentina, homeland of predecessor Pope Francis, where President Javier Milei — who once called Francis "evil on earth" — has welcomed the visit. The final leg is a "homecoming" to Peru, where Leo spent nearly two decades and holds citizenship, including a return to the Chiclayo diocese and Mass in Cusco. He will meet survivors of clerical sexual abuse in all three countries. Analysts frame the trip as reconnecting the papacy with Latin America after Francis.