After cancer surgery, Pope Leo embarks on Latin America trip

Pope Leo XIV departed Rome on Friday for a 12-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The trip comes three weeks after the 71-year-old underwent surgery on October 13 to remove a cancerous tumor from the lower lobe of his right lung. According to Capital FM Kenya and KBC, the Pope previously revealed the tumor was discovered during a routine scan, and his medical team confirmed the cancer had not spread.

The Vatican stated this week that the Pope has completely healed and no special precautions or extraordinary measures are being taken for the tour.

The ambitious itinerary includes traveling approximately 31,000 km across 10 cities to deliver 36 speeches, according to the Daily Maverick. During a weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope expressed his hope to strengthen faith, renew hope, and rekindle the fire of charity. Free Malaysia Today reports that the Pope intends to visit political leaders, prisoners, and the poor in countries currently facing challenges such as rising inequality, violence, population decline, and declining Catholicism.

As the first US-born pope, the Chicago-born Leo spent decades as a missionary in Peru and is a Peruvian citizen. The Daily Maverick and Free Malaysia Today describe the trip as an emotional homecoming to a continent where he has deep connections. NPR notes the tour began with a visit to Uruguay, which follows the recent surgery that had previously placed the trip's status in question.

Brief written by urgent.news from NPR, Daily Maverick, Free Malaysia Today, Capital FM Kenya, KBC — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.