Pope Leo clears schedule for November South American tour after lung tumor removal

The Vatican announced on Friday that Pope Leo will proceed with his scheduled South American itinerary following his October lung cancer surgery. The 71-year-old leader had a tumor removed from the lower part of his right lung in Rome on October 13. Doctors confirmed the growth was localized and well-contained, clearing him for travel after a 90-minute procedure at Gemelli hospital.

The tour spans 6 to 17 November and includes stops in 10 cities across three nations. The itinerary begins in Uruguay on 8 November, with visits to Montevideo and other key cities. He will then move to Argentina from 11 to 17 November, where he is expected to visit Buenos Aires among other locations. The final leg of the trip takes him to Peru, a country where approximately 76 percent of the population identifies as Catholic.

In Peru, the Pope will visit Lima, Chiclayo, Cuzco, and Pucallpa. Cardinal Gustavo Martínez, the Archbishop of Lima, noted that the program will feature interactions with young people, women managing community kitchens, and indigenous community members. The archbishop emphasized the Pope’s personal connection to Chiclayo, where Leo held Peruvian citizenship and lived for several years after arriving as an Augustinian missionary in 1985.

Pope Leo spoke directly to the public about his diagnosis during his weekly prayer address on October 11. He told the crowd in St Peter's Square that surgeons had advised removal of the nodule. Following his discharge from hospital on October 17, he has been resting and adjusting his daily schedule to balance recovery with his ministerial duties. The Vatican stated he looks forward to the trip with great joy and enthusiasm.

Surgeon Stefano Margaritora assessed the Pope's health as being in an absolutely satisfactory clinical condition. He stated there were no clinical reasons to delay the journey. The Vatican also confirmed that the Pope will cancel a planned visit to Assisi on October 27, acting on medical advice to prioritize his ongoing recovery.