Key takeaways:
- Pope Leo XIV is cleared to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from Nov. 6 to 17, with stops in 10 cities.
- Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung on Oct. 13; he was discharged from the hospital on Oct. 17.
- The itinerary still includes Cuzco, Peru, despite its altitude of more than 11,000 feet.
Pope Leo XIV has been cleared to make a 12-day trip to South America next month, the Vatican said Monday, two weeks after surgeons removed a cancerous part of his right lung.
The 71-year-old pontiff is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from Nov. 6 to 17. The Vatican said the trip would follow the program already announced, which calls for stops in 10 cities. CBS News reported that the schedule includes 14 flights, along with numerous public appearances and religious ceremonies.
“Based on his current clinical status, as well as the instrumental and laboratory tests performed, there are no contraindications that would prevent him from undertaking his upcoming apostolic journey to Latin America as planned,” the Vatican said in a statement carried by CBS News. It said Leo was following medical recommendations “with great care and diligence.”
Surgeons removed the lower lobe of Leo’s right lung on Oct. 13 after finding a malignant tumor. CBS News reported that the cancer, a lung adenocarcinoma, was discovered during a routine abdominal examination. Leo had told pilgrims during Sunday prayers on Oct. 11 that doctors had found a lung nodule. He described it as “well-contained” and caught “at an early stage.”
The 90-minute operation in Rome was successful, and Leo left Gemelli hospital on Oct. 17. His surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, said the pope was in an “absolutely satisfactory clinical condition” and that there were “no clinical reasons” to cancel the journey, according to the BBC. Tests showed the cancer was localised, the BBC reported.
The full itinerary includes Cuzco, Peru, at more than 11,000 feet above sea level, according to CBS News. The outlet reported that the thinner air there could pose difficulties for someone recovering from lung surgery. Leo recently canceled a planned helicopter trip to Assisi on his doctors’ advice; CBS News reported that they recommended the decision as a precaution because the helicopter cabin was unpressurized.
Leo has gradually resumed public duties since leaving the hospital, including a weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square and meetings with visiting church leaders. The Vatican said he has adjusted his daily schedule in consultation with doctors to prioritize his recovery while continuing his ministry.
The trip will take Leo back to Peru, where the first American-born pope spent years as a missionary and bishop. He has Peruvian citizenship, and the BBC reported that he began missionary work there in 1985. The BBC said the Peru itinerary includes Lima, Chiclayo, Cuzco and Pucallpa. Cardinal Castillo, the archbishop of Lima, has said the visit will involve young people, women who help run community kitchens and members of Indigenous communities, according to the BBC, citing Vatican News.
“I am looking forward to returning to the continent where I’ve experienced so many moments of my life,” Leo said Monday. “May this journey be an occasion for us to open our hearts to one another, strengthen our communion as brothers and sisters, and renew our commitment to proclaiming the Gospel with joy.”
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