Pope Leo Begins Three-Country South American Trip After Cancer Surgery
The 12-day journey includes 12 flights and visits to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, marking his first major overseas tour since lung cancer surgery.
By Ryan Carter ·
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Thursday for a 12-day, three-country tour that is his longest and most far-reaching to date. This is his first major overseas visit since undergoing lung cancer surgery last month.
The itinerary includes 12 flights, two helicopter rides, 36 speeches, and visits to 10 cities. One stop is Cusco, Peru, which sits more than 11,000 feet above sea level. Altitude sickness at that elevation can require supplemental oxygen even for healthy travelers.
Vatican officials confirm the pope completed a two-week recovery period after surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. Maria Montserrat Alvar, the Vatican's communications chief, stated that doctors are confident in his health. She noted he will have medical care available on board for any contingencies.
Uruguay, a nation of approximately 3.5 million people, is considered Latin America's most secular country. Only about a third of its residents identify as Catholic, and fewer still practice the faith. The nation has separated religion from government for over a century, naming Christmas "Family Day" and Easter week "Tourism Week." Alvar defended the choice of venue by asking, "Why Not?" and stating that the Gospel is meant to go everywhere.
The pope will next travel to Argentina, a destination his predecessor, Pope Francis, hoped to visit before his death. Francis had expressed concern that a papal visit might become entangled in the country's polarized politics. The trip offers an early test of how Leo will navigate tensions with right-wing populist leaders across Latin America, including Argentina's President Javier Milei. Milei has implemented austerity measures that pushed millions into poverty, a situation that contrasts with Leo's frequent advocacy for the poor. The two also hold differing views on artificial intelligence, with Leo's encyclical calling for ethical safeguards while Milei favors a largely unfettered approach.
The final leg of the journey returns Leo to Peru, where he served as a missionary and later as Bishop of Chiclayo for two decades. He became a naturalized Peruvian citizen in 2015. He will meet with President Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of former dictator Alberto Fujimori. As a priest during the Fujimori era, Leo was critical of military violence and supported the efforts that led to Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
