Pope Leo XIV Begins 12-Day Latin America Tour Post-Surgery
Pope Leo XIV landed in Uruguay on Saturday to begin a 12-day tour across South America, marking his sixth international trip just three weeks after undergoing surgery for a tumor on his right lung. Catholic pilgrims, political leaders, and local communities across Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru are preparing to host the 71-year-old pontiff as he visits historic parishes, prisons, and public venues.
Pontiff Undertakes 12-Day Itinerary Across Three Nations Following Surgery
Speaking to reporters aboard the papal aircraft, the pontiff confirmed he was in “fairly good shape” following his medical procedure and encouraged others facing serious health diagnoses not to be afraid. His arrival in Montevideo represents the first papal visit to Uruguay since 1988, where he was welcomed by President Yamandu Orsi before addressing crowds in Plaza Independencia regarding healthcare accessibility and national suicide rates.
The itinerary includes a Saturday Mass in the western city of Paysandu for an estimated 30,000 pilgrims, followed by a prayer vigil for 60,000 people at Montevideo’s Centenario Stadium and a visit to the Casavalle neighborhood. After Uruguay, the tour shifts to Argentina and Peru, where Leo spent nearly two decades serving as a missionary and which he described as one of his many homes. The journey also follows a milestone for the US-born pontiff, who cast a mail-in ballot for the recent US midterm elections, making him the first pope known to vote in a political election.
This multi-nation journey marks the Vatican‘s return to Uruguay for the first time in nearly four decades.
