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Pope Leo XIV to Tour South America Despite Lung Cancer Surgery
· Confirmed
In Short: Ewtnnews and Ncregister confirm that the Vatican has published the schedule for Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to Latin America, where he will visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from Nov. 6–17.
Catholic World Report and Ewtnnews report that Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff and a naturalized citizen of Peru, will spend five of his 11 days in Peru, including two in his former diocese of Chiclayo. EWTN Vatican and Aciafrica confirm that the Vatican announced Tuesday that Pope Leo will hold meetings with victims of clerical sexual abuse during his trip.
According to Catholic World Report, Pope Leo XIV said upon arriving in Rome in 2023 to take up a new role as a Vatican official, “I still consider myself a missionary. My vocation, like that of every Christian, is to be a missionary, to proclaim the Gospel wherever one is.” Ewtnnews and EWTN Vatican report that the Pope will begin his journey by departing Rome on Nov. 6 at 7:50 a.m. And will pay a courtesy visit to the president of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi, at his residence at the Edificio José Artigas at 6:15 p.m.
Dioceseofscranton and OSV News report that the journey begins Nov. 6 with a flight of more than 14 hours and 6,900 miles from Rome to Montevideo, Uruguay. OSV News quotes Dr. Luigi Carbone, the papal doctor, saying, “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.”
Ewtnnews and Ncregister confirm that the Vatican has published the schedule for Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to Latin America, where he will visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from Nov. 6–17. OSV News and Dioceseofscranton report that the Pope will travel to a new destination nearly every day, including a 2,200-mile flight from Buenos Aires to Lima and a military helicopter flight Nov. 14 to the Andes mountain town of Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, Peru.
Ewtnnews and Ncregister report that Pope Leo XIV is set to be the first pope to visit Uruguay since St. John Paul II. OSV News and Dioceseofscranton report that the journey will take him to 14 cities and towns, including Cusco, Peru, which lies more than 11,000 feet above sea level. OSV News notes that the possibility of having an ambulance helicopter is being considered in case of any eventuality.
Ewtnnews and Ncregister report that the final and most extensive leg of the papal journey will take place in Peru, encompassing diverse cities that reflect the rich geographical and cultural diversity of the Andean nation. OSV News and Dioceseofscranton report that the Pope will hold important meetings with communities of Amazonian peoples in the department of Ucayali in Pucallpa, Peru.
Ewtnnews and Ncregister report that the Pope will hold several meetings with victims of clerical sexual abuse during his apostolic journey. OSV News and Dioceseofscranton report that the Pope will have a specialized ambulance, as befits a head of state, which will accompany the delegation at all times.
Ewtnnews and Ncregister report that the length of the journey would allow the Pope to experience something of the diversity of each country. OSV News and Dioceseofscranton report that the Pope’s determination to recover quickly has been effective in every respect.
Ewtnnews and Ncregister report that the Pope’s decision not to reduce his schedule, which features more than 40 public and private events, is striking. OSV News and Dioceseofscranton report that the Pope’s presence will seek to deliver a direct message of hope to the most vulnerable sectors and marginalized communities in the Río de la Plata region.
Ewtnnews and Ncregister report that the Pope will have a specialized ambulance, as befits a head of state, which will accompany the delegation at all times. OSV News and Dioceseofscranton report that the Pope’s determination to recover quickly has been effective in every respect.
Ewtnnews and Ncregister report that the Pope’s decision not to reduce his schedule, which features more than 40 public and private events, is striking. OSV News and Dioceseofscranton report that the Pope’s presence will seek to deliver a direct message of hope to the most vulnerable sectors and marginalized communities in the Río de la Plata region.
Ewtnnews and Ncregister report that the Pope’s decision not to reduce his schedule, which features more than 40 public and private events, is striking. OSV News and Dioceseofscranton report that the Pope’s presence will seek to deliver a direct message of hope to the most vulnerable sectors and marginalized communities in the Río de la Plata region.
Background
Pope Leo XIV will travel to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6 to 17, 2026, despite undergoing lung cancer surgery earlier this month.
Pope Leo XIV will embark on a 12-day tour of South America, visiting Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6 to 17, 2026, despite undergoing lung cancer surgery earlier this month.
What's confirmed
- The first U.S.-born pontiff, Leo is also a naturalized citizen of Peru, where he spent almost half of his 43 years as a priest before becoming pope.
- The pope will spend five of his 11 days on the continent in Peru, two of them in his former diocese of Chiclayo.
- The Vatican announced Tuesday that Pope Leo XIV will hold “several meetings” with victims of clerical sexual abuse during his apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from Nov. 6–17.
- Learn more Rome — October 26, 2026 Share on Bluesky Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email to a friend Print Two weeks after Pope Leo XIV's surgery for lung cancer, his doctor confirmed he can fly to South America according to the previously released schedule, with Uruguay, Argentina and Peru planned as stops for his Nov. 6-17 trip, the longest trip of the pontificate so far.
- The Pope is following medical recommendations with great care and diligence, and with a deep determination to continue serving the Church.
- According to the announcement, the pope will begin his journey by departing Rome on Nov. 6 at 7:50 a.m.
- At 6:15 p.m., the pope will pay a courtesy visit to the president of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi, at his residence at the Edificio José Artigas.
- The Vatican has published the schedule for Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to Latin America, where he will visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from Nov. 6–17.
- Pope Leo XIV is set to be the first pope to visit Uruguay since St.
- (OSV News) – Two weeks after Pope Leo XIV’s surgery for lung cancer, his doctor confirmed he can fly to South America according to the previously released schedule, with Uruguay, Argentina and Peru planned as stops for his Nov. 6-17 trip, the longest trip of the pontificate so far.
- “In the case of Santa Cruz, the possibility of having an ambulance helicopter is being considered in case of any eventuality. In addition to his own doctor, there will be a Peruvian doctor prepared to attend to any situation,” the prelate said of another high altitude town in the Andes Mountains, which the pope plans to visit Nov. 14.
- In between, the pope will travel to a new destination nearly every day, including a 2,200-mile flight from Buenos Aires to Lima and a military helicopter flight Nov. 14 to the Andes mountain town of Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, Peru.
What's still developing
- The peoples of Latin America have always welcomed the successors of Peter “with open arms, affection, and devotion,” according to Dr. Guzmán Carriquiry.
- The anticipation surrounding this trip is considerable, as it represents a long-awaited reunion with church communities that have not received a direct visit from a pope for decades.
- The Pope was "remaining attentive to the needs of each day and allowing for appropriate periods of rest," it said, adding that Leo was "deeply grateful for the prayers and affection he has received from throughout the world."
Sources
- Aciafricalink
- Catholic World Reportlink
- Dioceseofscrantonlink
- Ewtnnewslink
- Ewtnvaticanlink
- Ncregisterlink
- Ncronlinelink
- Angelusnewslink
- Batimeslink
- Vaticannewslink
- Ewtnnewslink
- Exaudilink
- Zenitlink
- OSV Newslink
- WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV to Tour South America Despite Cancer Surgery link
- WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV Set for South America Tour After Cancer Surgery link
- CBS Chicago — video link