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Archive photo · 12 May 2025Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Uruguay to Start 12-Day South America Tour After Lung Cancer Surgery
14 Western Mainstream3 Local Western3 Other4 Other source typesPhoto: Edgar Beltrán / The Pillar, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped for layout
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Launches 12-day tour across Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru starting in Montevideo. Three weeks after lung cancer surgery, the pope undertakes the journey.
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Pope Arrives in Uruguay
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Uruguay on Friday to begin a 12-day tour of South America, three weeks after undergoing lung cancer surgery that had put the trip into question. Pope Leo XIV told reporters on the plane that he feels “fairly good” and said, “I had no doubt and was convinced that this trip had to go forward.”
The Vatican said Pope Leo XIV would be in Uruguay from November 6-8, Argentina from November 8-11, and Peru from November 11-17. Pope Leo XIV planned a packed itinerary that included a mass in Paysandu about 375 kilometres from Montevideo and another mass in the city of Florida about 100 kilometres from the capital.
Health, Hope, and Endurance
Pope Leo XIV credited “God, good doctors and his healthy lifestyle” for his quick recovery after lung cancer surgery. Pope Leo XIV told reporters aboard the papal plane, “I confess that from the first day, I had no doubt and was convinced that this trip had to go forward.”
The Vatican said no extraordinary measures were being taken and described Pope Leo XIV as a “71-year-old who has undergone an operation” rather than someone with a “permanent medical condition”. Maria Montserrat Alvarado said Pope Leo XIV’s stamina was “fantastic” and that “you can only sing if your lungs are really strong.”
Security and Social Stakes
Uruguay’s Cardinal Daniel Sturla told AFP that there was “widespread interest in the pope's visit that goes well beyond the confines of the Catholic Church,” with tickets for masses in Paysandu and Florida quickly running out. Uruguay’s preparations included about 5,000 police and 1,000 soldiers mobilized for Pope Leo XIV’s arrival and route in Montevideo.
Pope Leo XIV’s trip was framed as a homecoming for a pontiff who lived in Peru for almost two decades and holds joint US and Peruvian citizenship. Pope Leo XIV was scheduled to meet survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy during the trip, and the Vatican said he would also address issues including environmental destruction, arms trafficking and regional political instability.