Pope Leo XIV says he is in 'fairly good shape' after lung cancer surgery as South American tour begins

Summary

Pope Leo XIV, 71, says he is in 'fairly good shape' after an operation on October 13 at Rome's Gemelli hospital, where a cancerous tumor and part of his right lung were removed. The Vatican said after the surgery that he was fit to travel and required no further treatment. He arrived in Uruguay on Friday to begin a three-nation South American tour, the first trip of its kind to the continent in eight years. Al Jazeera reports the tour lasts 12 days, and CBS News reports he is visiting Uruguay, Argentina and Peru just weeks after the surgery.

Timeline

1. Hindustan Times

   6 Nov 2026, 20:05 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that Pope Leo XIV, 71, says he is in 'fairly good shape' after a cancerous tumor and part of his right lung were removed in an operation at Rome's Gemelli hospital on October 13.

2. Le Monde

   6 Nov 2026, 21:30 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that the Pope says he is in 'fairly good shape' after lung cancer surgery, that the Vatican said he was fit to travel and required no further treatment, and that he arrived in Uruguay on Friday to begin a three-nation South American tour, eight years after a pontiff last visited the continent.

3. Al Jazeera

   7 Nov 2026, 00:55 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that Pope Leo XIV arrived in Uruguay to kick off a 12-day tour of South America after undergoing lung surgery last month.

4. CBS News

   7 Nov 2026, 15:50 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that Pope Leo XIV is visiting Uruguay, Argentina and Peru just weeks after he had a cancerous lung tumor removed.