Pope Leo gives health update as he begins Latin America tour after cancer surgery

The Independent · Camille Chorley · 2026-11-07 20:25 UTC

Pope Leo XIV said he is “in fairly good shape” after his cancer treatment, as he began a three-nation tour of Latin America. Speaking to reporters aboard the flight to Uruguay on Friday (6 November), the Pope said he was firmly convinced the trip had to go ahead and expressed gratitude for all the medical assistance he received. He urged people facing a cancer diagnosis to “not be afraid”, stressing that early diagnosis is “the best way to go”. The Pope is kicking off the tour in Uruguay, the region’s least Catholic and most secular country, three weeks after lung cancer surgery put the trip into question.

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