Pope Leo XIV Begins South American Tour in Uruguay Following Surgery

Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Uruguay to commence a 12-day tour of South America, marking his return to the region just three weeks after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous lung tumour. The 71-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church touched down in Montevideo on Friday following a 13-hour flight from Rome. Speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane, the pontiff stated that he felt "fairly good" and acknowledged that some observers had questioned whether the international journey would proceed.

The itinerary includes visits to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru in what is described as one of the most intensive papal foreign trips in decades. During his three-day schedule in Uruguay—characterized as the region's least Catholic and most secular nation—the pope is planned to visit a neighbourhood experiencing heavy gang violence, alongside holding masses in Paysandu and the city of Florida. Cardinal Daniel Sturla, the archbishop of Montevideo, reported to Agence France-Presse that public interest in the visit extends beyond the Catholic community, noting that tickets for the scheduled masses have been rapidly depleted.

The broader regional tour holds personal significance for the leader of the global Catholic Church, who previously spent nearly two decades serving as a missionary in Peru. His upcoming schedule in Peru involves stops in the former Inca capital of Cusco, the Amazon rainforest, and a private visit to a chapel he helped rebuild within his former diocese of Chiclayo. Ahead of the journey, Pope Leo remarked that he anticipated returning to a continent that remains deeply meaningful to him, expressing a desire to strengthen faith, renew hope, and address regional challenges including rising inequality, violence, and declining religious adherence.

Medical clearance for the travel was granted following an operation on October 13, with Vatican officials confirming that no specialized medical measures beyond standard care were required. Maria Montserrat Alvarado, the Vatican communications chief, highlighted the pontiff's physical recovery, noting that he had completed the mandatory 14-day convalescence period and demonstrated strong stamina following the procedure.