Pope Leo begins 12-day South America tour weeks after lung surgery

Summary

Pope Leo XIV began a 12-day tour of South America on Friday, November 6, his first major trip since lung surgery last month, landing first in Uruguay. The trip also takes him to Argentina and Peru, where he spent about two decades as a missionary; The Straits Times describes him as the first US-born pope returning to a Catholic stronghold. NPR reported that the lung cancer surgery had put the entire trip into question, but the pope went ahead. NDTV quoted him saying he was in "fairly good shape" after the operation. NBC News reported that the Vatican called the trip a "homecoming" tour. Al Jazeera reported that he praised Uruguay's clean energy transition and called for universal healthcare. France 24 describes Uruguay as the region's least Catholic and most secular country. The South China Morning Post reports an itinerary of meetings with political leaders, prisoners, the poor and old friends, and Deutsche Welle calls it packed. RTÉ and The Straits Times say the trip is expected to draw millions of people.

Timeline

1. BBC

   6 Nov 2026, 00:02 UTCSource ↗

   The BBC reports that Pope Leo, who had part of a lung removed last month, will visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.

2. Hindustan Times

   6 Nov 2026, 02:52 UTCSource ↗

   Hindustan Times reports that Pope Leo is on an emotional South America tour weeks after his cancer surgery.

3. The Straits Times

   6 Nov 2026, 03:25 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that the 71-year-old head of the Catholic Church will visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru over 12 days.

4. The Straits Times

   6 Nov 2026, 04:08 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that 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 as a missionary.

5. Le Monde

   6 Nov 2026, 05:01 UTCSource ↗

   Le Monde reports that, despite his recent lung surgery, the pope is going ahead with his trip to Peru, where he spent 20 years, and could serve as a bridge between Church factions in Uruguay and Argentina.

6. The New York Times

   6 Nov 2026, 05:01 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reports that less than a month after lung surgery, Pope Leo XIV landed in Uruguay on Friday, the first stop of a 12-day voyage across South America.

7. The New York Times

   6 Nov 2026, 05:01 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reports that the tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru is Pope Leo XIV's first major trip since his lung operation last month.

8. The New York Times

   6 Nov 2026, 05:01 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reports that the tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru is Pope Leo XIV's first major trip since his lung operation last month.

9. NPR

   6 Nov 2026, 09:19 UTCSource ↗

   NPR reports that Pope Leo XIV is kicking off a three-nation tour of Latin America in Uruguay, three weeks after lung cancer surgery that had put the entire trip into question.

10. France 24

    6 Nov 2026, 14:58 UTCSource ↗

    France 24 reports that Pope Leo XIV is kicking off a three-nation tour of Latin America in Uruguay, the region's least Catholic and most secular country, three weeks after lung cancer surgery.

11. RTÉ

    6 Nov 2026, 15:34 UTCSource ↗

    RTÉ reports that Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Uruguay to begin an ambitious 12-day trip across South America, expected to attract millions of people, one month after his lung surgery.

12. NBC News

    6 Nov 2026, 16:02 UTCSource ↗

    NBC News reports that less than a month after cancer surgery, Pope Leo XIV set off on what the Vatican called a "homecoming" tour of South America.

13. NPR

    6 Nov 2026, 19:13 UTCSource ↗

    NPR reports that Pope Leo began his first South American tour since lung cancer surgery, a 12-day journey through Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, where he spent two decades.

14. NDTV

    6 Nov 2026, 19:51 UTCSource ↗

    NDTV reports that Pope Leo said on Friday he was in "fairly good shape" after lung cancer surgery last month, as he began a 12-day tour with a visit to Uruguay.

15. Al Jazeera

    6 Nov 2026, 20:22 UTCSource ↗

    Al Jazeera reports that the pontiff arrived in Uruguay to start a 12-day tour of three countries, praising Uruguay's clean energy transition and calling for universal healthcare.

16. South China Morning Post

    6 Nov 2026, 20:30 UTCSource ↗

    The South China Morning Post reports that Pope Leo began an emotionally charged 12-day tour on Friday, three weeks after lung cancer surgery, meeting political leaders, prisoners, the poor and old friends in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.

17. Deutsche Welle

    6 Nov 2026, 22:54 UTCSource ↗

    Deutsche Welle reports that Pope Leo has arrived in Uruguay at the start of a 12-day trip through three South American nations, with a packed itinerary just weeks after his lung cancer surgery.