Just weeks after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous lung tumour, 71-year-old Pope Leo XIV has touched down in Montevideo for a demanding 12-day tour of South America, Al Jazeera reported. Despite doubts surrounding his health, the pontiff expressed confidence as he addressed reporters aboard the papal aircraft, stating that he felt in fairly good shape thanks to medical assistance, according to Al Jazeera.

The visit marks the beginning of an intensive regional itinerary spanning Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, as reported by Al Jazeera. In Uruguay, a nation described by the outlet as the region's least Catholic and most secular, the pontiff's schedule includes stops in a neighbourhood affected by gang violence, alongside masses in Paysandu and Florida.

Background

Al Jazeera reported that the 71-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church arrived in Uruguay on Friday following a 13-hour flight from Rome. The trip comes just three weeks after he underwent an operation on October 13 to remove a cancerous tumour. According to the Vatican, doctors cleared him for travel without requiring special medical measures beyond standard papal tour care. Cardinal Daniel Sturla, the archbishop of Montevideo, noted widespread public interest exceeding traditional church boundaries, with tickets for scheduled masses depleting rapidly, Al Jazeera stated.

The journey also serves as a homecoming of sorts for the pontiff, who spent nearly two decades as a missionary in Peru. His upcoming stops will include the former Inca capital of Cusco, the Amazon rainforest, and a private visit to a chapel he helped rebuild in his former diocese of Chiclayo, according to Al Jazeera.

Why it matters

For international observers and communities tracking global leadership, high-profile travel by heads of state and religious figures often highlights themes of resilience and public engagement under physical strain. The journey underscores how global figures navigate post-operative recovery while fulfilling extensive international commitments.

What's next

The pope is scheduled to continue his packed three-day itinerary in Uruguay before proceeding to Argentina and Peru over the course of the 12-day tour, as reported by Al Jazeera.