In short
- Pope Leo XIV, 71, arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Friday, the first stop of a 12-day tour of Latin America.
- The tour comes three weeks after surgery to remove a lung tumour found during a routine scan; his doctors say the cancer has not spread.
- The itinerary covers Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, with the Pope due to travel more than 20,000 miles on his sixth international tour.
- In his first speech of the trip, delivered in Montevideo’s Plaza Independencia, the Pope said universal healthcare should be “accessible to everyone”.
- The Vatican described the Peru leg as a “homecoming” because the Pope was based there for years as a missionary and then a bishop.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Friday, opening a 12-day tour of Latin America three weeks after surgery to remove a lung tumour. The 71-year-old told reporters travelling with him that he believes he is in “quite good health” and was “very happy” to be able to make the trip.
What did Pope Leo XIV say about his health?
Speaking to journalists on the plane to Uruguay, the Pope said: “Thanks to the marvellous medical staff… I believe I am in quite good health.” It was his first public comment on his condition since the operation. He said he had never doubted the journey would go ahead: “I must confess that, from the very first day, I never had any doubts; I was convinced that this journey had to go forward.”
The tour was thrown into doubt last month when doctors discovered a tumour during a routine scan. The Pope underwent surgery for lung cancer and his doctors say the cancer has not spread. The Vatican has since said he needs no further treatment.
Where will the 12-day tour go?
After Uruguay, the itinerary covers Argentina and Peru. Pope Leo will travel more than 20,000 miles on his sixth international tour, and is due to fly to Argentina on Sunday. The Vatican has described the Peru leg as a “homecoming”, because the Pope was based there for many years, first as a missionary and then as a bishop.
What did he say in Montevideo?
The Pope arrived in the Uruguayan capital to a seafront lined with crowds shouting his name as his Popemobile passed. In his first speech of the trip, delivered in Plaza Independencia, he said universal healthcare should be “accessible to everyone”. He said the care he received had made him think of the “many men and women who lack the means to obtain a timely diagnosis” or to receive treatment. He ended the day with a prayer at the Montevideo Cathedral.
Why does the Argentina stop matter?
Argentina is the homeland of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who did not return during his own papacy. Pope Leo said his visit was about being near the people who were looking to the Church for a message of “hope”.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Pope Leo XIV and how is his health?
Pope Leo XIV is 71. Speaking to reporters on his flight to Uruguay, he said he believes he is in “quite good health” following surgery to remove a lung tumour.
Which countries is Pope Leo XIV visiting on his Latin America tour?
The 12-day tour covers Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The Pope is due to travel more than 20,000 miles on his sixth international tour.
Why has the Vatican called the Peru visit a homecoming?
The Vatican described the Peru leg as a “homecoming” because Pope Leo XIV was based in the country for many years, first as a missionary and later as a bishop.
When did Pope Leo XIV have surgery for lung cancer?
He had surgery to remove a lung tumour found during a routine scan in the weeks before the tour. His doctors say the operation was successful and the cancer has not spread.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)