Pope Leo XIV begins 12‑day South America tour after lung surgery
Pope Leo XIV departs Rome on 6 Nov aboard an ITA Airways A330, launching a 12‑day apostolic journey that will take him to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The 71‑year‑old pontiff, who underwent lung‑cancer surgery on 13 Oct and has completed the required 14‑day recovery, arrives in Montevideo that afternoon and will meet President Yamandú Orsi. The itinerary includes visits to Montevideo, Paysandú and Florida in Uruguay, Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján in Argentina from 8‑11 Nov, and several Peruvian cities before returning to Italy on 17 Nov.
Key facts
- The last papal visit to Argentina was by John Paul II in April 1987.
- Pope Leo XIV holds Peruvian citizenship in addition to U.S. nationality.
- Around 77 % of Uruguay’s 3.5 million people are baptized Catholics.
- Latin America contains roughly 40 % of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
- He will celebrate Mass in Paysandú, about 375 km from Montevideo.
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Why it matters
The tour marks the longest papal trip to Latin America, a region with a large Catholic population.
What changed
First published from MercoPress, Bangkok Post, The Straits Times, Buenos Aires Times and Mexico News Daily