Pope Leo XIV Begins Latin American Tour Following Cancer Surgery

Pope Leo XIV has begun a 12-day tour of Latin America, covering Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, just three weeks after undergoing surgery for lung cancer. The trip marks the pontiff's return to public international travel following the medical procedure. Vatican officials confirmed that no special healthcare accommodations were implemented for the schedule.

The surgical procedure took place last month after doctors identified a tumour during a routine scan, leading to the removal of the lower lobe of the Pope's right lung. Medical staff later confirmed that the carcinoma had not spread beyond the removed tissue. A Vatican spokeswoman indicated before departure that Pope Leo had personally reviewed and approved the demanding itinerary without alterations.

The itinerary opens in Uruguay, which is hosting its first papal visit in four decades, before proceeding to Argentina. The Argentine leg includes scheduled meetings with President Javier Milei, who had previously criticised the social justice teachings of Pope Francis. Milei recently posted on social media that the nation awaits the pontiff with joy, amidst ongoing debate over the administration's budget cuts that drew criticism from local church leadership.

The journey concludes in Peru, where the Pope lived for nearly 20 years and retains citizenship. His itinerary includes stops in the diocese of Chiclayo, where he served as bishop, as well as Cusco in the Andes and Pucallpa in the Amazon basin. Across all three nations, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo will hold meetings with victims of clerical sexual abuse.

Written by Thorben Thiede thorben.thiede@alpineweekly.com