Pope Leo Cleared for South America Tour After Surgery

The Vatican says Pope Leo will proceed with his planned South American tour from 6 to 17 November after successful surgery to remove a lung tumour. The 71-year-old was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent a 90-minute operation in Rome on 13 October. Tests showed the cancer was localised, and his surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, said the Pope was in an “absolutely satisfactory clinical condition,” with no medical reason to cancel the trip. Leo was discharged from Gemelli Hospital on 17 October and has since been resting while gradually returning to his duties in consultation with his doctors. The itinerary remains unchanged and includes 10 cities across Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The Pope is scheduled to visit Uruguay first, including Montevideo, before travelling to Argentina from 11 to 17 November and visiting Buenos Aires and other locations. He will then spend six days in Peru, with stops in Lima, Chiclayo, Cuzco and Pucallpa. The Vatican said Leo was looking forward to the journey with “great joy and enthusiasm.” The trip has particular significance in Peru, where Leo has longstanding connections. He was sent there as a Catholic missionary in 1985, joined missions in Chulucanas and Trujillo, and worked between Peru and the United States for almost three decades. He has Peruvian citizenship. Cardinal Castillo, the Archbishop of Lima, said the visit would involve young people, women who run community kitchens and Indigenous communities, and noted Leo’s close ties to Chiclayo. Leo had announced that doctors found a nodule on his lung during his weekly prayers on 11 October, describing it as caught early and well-contained. While continuing his ministry, he is adjusting his schedule to support his recovery. On doctors’ advice, he will cancel a planned visit to Assisi on 27 October.

Pope Leo XIV has received medical clearance to make a planned 12-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17, about three weeks after surgery for lung cancer. The Vatican said that examinations and laboratory tests found no medical reason to prevent the journey and that the pope is carefully following his doctors’ recommendations. The demanding itinerary is expected to take him to 10 cities on 14 flights, with numerous public appearances and religious ceremonies. It will include Cuzco, Peru, which sits more than 11,000 feet above sea level; the thinner air there could be challenging during his recovery from lung surgery. Questions about whether Leo could manage the trip arose after he canceled a helicopter visit to Assisi for a peace gathering on medical advice. Doctors recommended avoiding the helicopter because its cabin was unpressurized, saying the cancellation was a precaution. The South American journey has personal importance for Leo, the first American-born pope, who spent more than two decades as a missionary and bishop in Peru. He said he looked forward to returning to the continent and hoped the trip would encourage solidarity and renewed commitment to proclaiming the Gospel. Leo underwent surgery on October 13, when doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung after discovering a malignant tumor. The lung adenocarcinoma was found by chance during a routine abdominal examination. The operation was successful and without complications, and he left the hospital on October 17. Since then, he has gradually resumed public duties, including his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square and meetings with visiting church leaders.

Pope Leo XIV is expected to travel to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 6 to 17 November, after the Vatican confirmed that his recovery from a recent operation is progressing well. The trip will proceed on its original schedule, following medical assessments that found no complications or contraindications to travel. According to the Holy See Press Office, the procedure was uncomplicated, follow-up tests showed that the illness was contained, and the Pope does not require additional oncological treatment. Medical check-ups two weeks after the operation indicated a favourable recovery. Doctor Luigi Carbone, who reports on the Pope’s progress, has said that he is in good health. Since returning to the Vatican, Leo XIV has gradually resumed his activities while following a schedule adjusted to medical recommendations and allowing time for rest. His planned visit to Latin America has personal significance: the Pope said he was happy to return to a continent where he had spent many important moments of his life. During the trip, he intends to strengthen connections with Catholic communities and deliver a message of faith, hope and peace. The article reports the travel plans and medical update, while placing the visit in the context of both the Pope’s recovery and his personal ties to the region.

The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will make his planned Nov. 6–17 visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru after a medical assessment found no reason he should not travel. The announcement came three weeks after surgery for lung cancer. The Vatican press office said his recovery is progressing in line with favorable assessments from his medical team and that the ambitious itinerary remains unchanged. On Oct. 13, surgeons removed the lung lobe containing a nodule that was later diagnosed as malignant. The surgery confirmed adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer, and was the first major health event of Leo’s 17-month pontificate. Since leaving Gemelli Hospital, he has gradually resumed his duties while adjusting his schedule to allow for recovery and rest. The trip will involve a dozen flights and two helicopter rides to high-altitude locations. Pope’s physician Luigi Carbone said there is no medical reason preventing the journey. Leo thanked people for their prayers and support and said he looked forward to returning to a continent where he had spent important periods of his life. He described the trip as an opportunity to open hearts, strengthen communion and renew commitment to proclaiming the Gospel. The Vatican said the visit will allow him to strengthen relationships with local churches, encourage the faithful and promote faith, hope and peace in the three countries.