Pope begins lengthy trip to Latin America weeks after lung cancer surgery

What the report says

Pope Leo XIV has begun a 12-day visit to Latin America, traveling to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru only three weeks after surgery to remove lung cancer. According to the BBC World News report, the Vatican says no special medical arrangements are being made, and officials have emphasized that the 71-year-old pope has returned to a full schedule after the operation.

The trip is being closely watched because Leo disclosed last month that a routine scan found a tumor in his right lung. The cancer was removed with the lower lobe, and his doctors said it had not spread. Vatican spokespeople said he was enthusiastic about the journey and had personally confirmed the program without changes.

The first stops are Uruguay and Argentina, where the pope is expected to meet political and religious figures and take part in public events. Argentina is described as the most politically sensitive leg of the tour, given tensions between President Javier Milei and church leaders over social spending and public policy.

The final and most symbolic destination is Peru, where Leo spent many years as a priest and bishop and holds citizenship. The Vatican has framed the stop as a return to his roots. The schedule also includes meetings with survivors of clerical sexual abuse, reflecting a continuing issue for the Catholic Church in the region.