Pope Leo starts South America 'homecoming' tour a month after lung surgery

USA Today · Joshua McElwee, USA TODAY · 2026-11-06 11:40 UTC

Leo will visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru on one of the most demanding overseas tours taken by a Catholic leader in decades.

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Pope Leo left on Friday for an ambitious 12-day trip across South America expected to attract millions-strong crowds, as the first US-born pope returns to a Catholic stronghold where he lived for decades as a missionary.

Leo, who is 71 and underwent lung cancer surgery last month, will visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru through November 17 on one of the most demanding overseas tours taken by a Catholic leader in decades.

The Vatican said this week that the pope had completely healed from his operation and no special precautions were being taken for the tour, on which Leo will travel some 31,000 km (19,300 miles) across 10 cities and give 36 speeches.

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