Vatican confirms Pope Leo’s Latin America trip after post-surgery checkup

Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on a planned trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6-17 after doctors confirmed there are no medical reasons preventing him from traveling, the Vatican announced on Monday. The trip, originally scheduled for three weeks post-lung cancer surgery, has been confirmed by the pontiff's physician, Luigi Carbone, despite the recent surgery where a lobe was removed to address a malignant nodule.

The Vatican's press office stated that Pope Leo's recovery remains favorable and the trip will proceed as planned, including the ambitious itinerary with no changes. The pope expressed gratitude for the prayers and support received during his recovery and looked forward to returning to a region significant in his life. This journey aims to strengthen ties with local churches, encourage the faithful, and promote the message of faith, hope, and peace in the South American countries.