Pope Leo XIV confirms trip to Argentina following lung surgery

Pope Leo XIV confirmed he will visit Argentina, Uruguay and Peru according to schedule in a trip set to begin next week, following surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his lung in mid-October.

“I am looking forward to returning to the continent where I’ve experienced so many moments of my life,” the pope said in a statement released on Monday by the Vatican’s press office, expressing “great joy and enthusiasm.”

“May this journey be an occasion for us to open our hearts to one another, strengthen our communion as brothers and sisters, and renew our commitment to proclaiming the Gospel with joy,” Pope Leo added.

While the pontiff’s agenda remained unchanged after his procedure on October 13, the Holy See had not formally confirmed he would be able to take on the journey previously scheduled for November 6-17.

Preparations continued normally in the three countries that will welcome him in the upcoming weeks, as the pope reappeared in public to lead religious services at St. Peter’s Square as usual last week.

On Wednesday, while greeting the faithful, an Argentine couple told him they would await for him in their country. “Argentina, there we go!” he replied in Spanish. Now, the confirmation was made official.

Pope Leo XIV will arrive in Montevideo, Uruguay, on November 6. He will stay there until the 8th and fly to Argentina, with an agenda spanning from November 8-11.

During his stay in Argentina, he will lead large-scale masses in Buenos Aires City, Luján and Córdoba. He will also meet with President Javier Milei and members of unions and labor federations, and visit a jail in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Villa Devoto, as well as an institution for the mentally ill in Claypole.

From November 11-17 he will visit Peru, a country where he lived for many years and even served as Bishop of Chiclayo between 2015 and 2023. He will visit his old diocese, as well as the cities of Lima, Cuzco and Pucallpa.

The Vatican’s statement said the Pope’s journey will “offer opportunities to strengthen the bonds of communion” with the local churches and “bring a message of faith, hope, and peace to the peoples of Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.”

The pope’s health Last week, Stefano Margaritora, the surgeon who operated on the pope, said there were “no clinical reasons” why he wouldn’t be able to travel, and estimated him to recover within 10 days after the operation.

In their new statement, the Holy See said that the pontiff’s recovery “continues to progress, in accordance with the favorable assessments communicated by his medical team.”

“As previously reported, the surgical procedure was successful and without complications. Subsequent medical examinations confirmed that the condition was localized and that no further oncological treatment is necessary,” it added.

Pope Leo has gradually resumed his activities while adjusting his daily schedule in consultation with his doctors “to prioritize his recovery while continuing to fulfill the responsibilities of his ministry,” also taking time to rest.

“Dr. Luigi Carbone confirms that the Holy Father’s recovery after the surgery continues, and the latest medical examinations attest to his good health and favorable clinical condition,” the statement read.

Clinical and laboratory analysis suggest “there are no contraindications that would prevent him from undertaking his upcoming Apostolic Journey to Latin America as planned.”