Pope Leo XIV Cleared for November Latin America Trip After Lung Cancer Surgery, Vatican Says

Pope Leo XIV will go ahead with his planned Nov. 6-17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, the Vatican said Monday, after doctors concluded that his recovery from lung cancer surgery is on track and that he is fit enough to make the journey.

The pope’s physician, Luigi Carbone, said there are no contraindications that would prevent him from undertaking the trip, based on his current clinical status and on laboratory and imaging tests. The Vatican said the trip program will stay as published, with no changes.

A 12-day tour with no changes

The tour is set to cover 10 cities and 36 speeches over 12 days, a distance of about 31,000 kilometers (19,300 miles). It includes a dozen flights and two helicopter rides to high altitudes, including a stop in Cusco, Peru, a city more than 11,000 feet above sea level.

Leo, 71, had surgery on Oct. 13, when doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung. A nodule removed in the operation was later diagnosed as adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.

Leo left the hospital on Oct. 17 and has since eased back into public duties, with rest periods built into his schedule. On Sunday he addressed the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, but on doctors’ advice he canceled a day visit to Assisi that had been scheduled for Tuesday.

A return to a region he knows well

Leo is the first pope born in the United States, and he spent more than two decades in Peru, first as a missionary and later as a bishop. “I am looking forward to returning to the continent where I’ve experienced so many moments of my life,” he said Monday.

The Vatican said the visit is meant to strengthen ties with local churches, encourage the faithful and promote a message of faith, hope and peace in the three countries.

The Vatican said his recovery continues to progress in line with favorable assessments from his medical team.

Reporting based on coverage by Reuters and The Associated Press.