Pope Leo XIV has begun a 12-day visit to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, just three weeks after undergoing lung cancer surgery.
On 6 Nov 2026 GMT+7, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV, head of the Roman Catholic Church, has started a 12-day visit to Latin America only three weeks after lung cancer surgery. The itinerary covers three countries—Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru—where he previously served as a priest for many years.
The Vatican confirmed no special health precautions were taken for the Pope, nor were there any changes to the schedule, stating he is simply a 71-year-old man who recently had surgery and is not chronically ill.
Earlier, Pope Leo XIV himself disclosed that doctors found a tumor during a routine health check last month. He underwent surgery to remove the tumor along with the lower right lobe of his lung, and medical teams later confirmed the cancer had not spread.
Reports indicate the first destination is Uruguay, where the Catholic population has significantly declined in recent years. This marks the Pope's first visit there in 40 years. He will then travel to Argentina, the birthplace of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who never visited his home country during his papacy.
The key destination of the trip is Peru, which the Vatican describes as a return to roots since Pope Leo XIV is very familiar with the area. He is scheduled to hold a Mass in Cusco, the former Inca Empire capital, at an altitude over 3,000 meters, before continuing to Pucallpa in the Amazon rainforest region.
Experts say this visit offers the Vatican a chance to renew relations with Latin America after the era of Pope Francis, highlighting Pope Leo XIV’s focus on fostering unity across the American continent.
Source: AP