Pope Leo to visit 10 cities two weeks after lung tumor removal

The Vatican announced on Friday that Pope Leo will proceed with his scheduled South American itinerary despite recent health complications. The decision follows a successful operation in Rome on October 13, during which surgeons removed a cancerous tumor from the lower part of his right lung.

The 71-year-old pontiff is set to travel to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru between November 6 and 17. The Vatican stated that Leo is looking forward to the journey with great joy and enthusiasm, confirming he will maintain the original program that includes visits to ten cities. He described the trip as a return to the continent where he experienced many defining moments of his life.

The tour will begin in Uruguay on November 8, with stops in the capital Montevideo and other major cities. From November 11 to 17, the Pope will move to Argentina, visiting Buenos Aires and other locations. His itinerary concludes with a six-day stay in Peru, where approximately 76% of the population identifies as Catholic. He will travel to Lima, Chiclayo, Cuzco, and Pucallpa.

Cardinal Carlos Castillo, the Archbishop of Lima, noted that the visit will engage young people, women who operate community kitchens, and members of indigenous groups. The archbishop pointed to the Pope's deep personal connections to Chiclayo, a city where he lived for several years and holds citizenship. In 1985, the Catholic Church sent him to Peru as a missionary at age 30, and he served at Augustinian missions in Chulucanas and Trujillo before working between the United States and Peru for nearly three decades.

Leo publicly disclosed his diagnosis during his weekly Sunday prayer on October 11. He told the crowd in St. Peter’s Square that doctors had found a nodule that was well-contained and caught at an early stage. The surgery lasted 90 minutes, and he was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli hospital on October 17. His surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, reported that the cancer was localized and that the Pope is in an absolutely satisfactory clinical condition with no medical reasons to delay the travel.

Since the operation, Leo has been resting and gradually resuming his duties. The Vatican said he is adjusting his daily schedule with his medical team to prioritize recovery while fulfilling his ministry. While the South American trip remains on track, the Vatican confirmed on Friday that Leo will cancel a planned visit to Assisi on October 27 on his doctors’ recommendation.