The Vatican says the pontiff is recuperating after the removal of a lung tumor, but leaders in South America warn his planned November tour could be delayed.
Pope Leo XIV is recovering in Rome after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, creating uncertainty across South America over whether he can complete a demanding 12-day tour scheduled for next month.
The Vatican announced on Tuesday that doctors removed the lower lobe of the 71-year-old pontiff’s right lung during a 90-minute operation at Agostino Gemelli University Hospital, Fox News reported. The Holy See Press Office stated that Leo awoke normally without complications and was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer, following tests on tissue taken during the procedure. Leo had previously disclosed that doctors discovered a small early-stage lump.
The operation followed an announcement earlier in the week that the pope would undergo surgery in Rome to remove a lung nodule after doctors found a lump during routine testing.
The Associated Press reported that while the Vatican maintained on Wednesday that Leo is recuperating as expected and that his travel schedule stands, South American Catholics and officials are preparing for potential disruptions to the Nov. 6-17 trip.
Questions surround a grueling itinerary
The planned visit would mark the longest foreign journey of Leo’s papacy, covering more than 31,000 kilometers, or 19,000 miles, across Argentina, Uruguay and Peru. The itinerary includes a dozen flights and two helicopter rides, taking him to six cities in Uruguay and Argentina to celebrate Masses and meet with worshippers, clergy and politicians. Neither Uruguay nor Argentina has hosted a papal visit since the 1980s.
The most demanding stretch of the schedule is set for Peru, where Leo spent two decades serving as a missionary and bishop in Chiclayo. The travel plan calls for him to fly from Lima to Chiclayo, then journey to the Amazonian city of Pucallpa and to Cusco high in the Andes. Church and medical officials note that the thin mountain air in Cusco, which sits about 3,400 meters or 11,150 feet above sea level, presents a significant physical challenge so soon after lung surgery.
Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori told reporters that Leo’s recovery could take several weeks longer than expected, which could force adjustments to the scheduled dates.
Reactions across Argentina and Uruguay
Church authorities in Argentina urged the faithful to put the pope’s recovery ahead of their anticipation for the nation’s first papal trip in 40 years. “Sometimes we think selfishly about his coming, but the first thing we need to think about is his health,” said Cardinal Ángel Rossi, the archbishop of Córdoba, one of the scheduled stops.
Argentine politicians from opposing factions united in wishing the pontiff well. “All of Argentina stands with His Holiness in affection and prayer,” said Milei, the country’s right-wing president who was raised Catholic and has explored converting to Judaism. His left-wing rival, Buenos Aires Gov. Axel Kicillof, also sent well wishes.
In neighboring Uruguay, where Christmas is officially recognized as Family Day and Catholics form a minority, Cardinal Daniel Sturla of Montevideo cautioned that the visit remains uncertain. Sturla noted that the final decision rests with the pope’s medical team, warning that the public might learn in the coming days that Leo cannot travel.
Concern in Leo’s adopted homeland
Worshippers across Peru gathered to hold vigils and recite the rosary. In Chiclayo, parishioners remembered Leo’s local service, including his efforts to secure oxygen plants during the COVID-19 pandemic, help flood victims and celebrate Mass with inmates. Betania Marina Rodríguez, who heads an organization for Venezuelan migrants in Chiclayo, described mixed feelings of wanting him to stay healthy while hoping to receive his blessing.
Outside a church in Lima, believers prayed before a life-size silicone statue of the pope. At the Las Nazarenas Monastery, 73-year-old Teresa Ramírez carried red, white and yellow roses matching the Peruvian and Vatican flags, praying that God’s will would determine whether Leo makes the journey. In the port city of Callao, another planned stop on the itinerary, 52-year-old nursing home resident Mayela Medina expressed hope that national prayers would comfort the convalescing pontiff.
Leo, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, became a Peruvian citizen in 2015 and renewed his national identity card last year after his election as pope.
International messages of support
U.S. President Donald Trump also offered well wishes on Wednesday while speaking to reporters on Air Force One during a flight from Arizona to Montana. Trump noted that he heard the prognosis seems good despite the seriousness of a cancer diagnosis.
Trump added that he is personal friends with Leo’s brother and sister-in-law, describing them as great people and enthusiastic supporters who display MAGA materials throughout their home. Leo previously met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican in May.
