12 Flights, 36 Speeches: Pope Leo's Ambitious South American Tour
The pontiff’s first major trip since lung cancer surgery spans Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, totaling 12 days.
By Aiko Brooks ·
Pope Leo XIV is set to complete a grueling itinerary that includes 12 flights and 36 public speeches during a 12-day tour of South America. The journey spans three countries and covers more distance than any previous trip by the current pontiff. It marks his first major overseas appearance since undergoing surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung last month.
Vatican officials confirmed that Leo has finished his two-week recovery period and requires no further treatment. Maria Montserrat Alvar, the Vatican's communications chief, stated that his doctors are confident in his health. She noted that medical care will be available on board his transport should any issues arise. The itinerary includes two helicopter rides and visits to 10 cities, including Cusco, Peru, which sits more than 11,000 feet above sea level.
The tour begins in Uruguay, a nation of approximately 3.5 million people that is widely considered the most secular in Latin America. Only about one-third of Uruguayans identify as Catholics, and fewer still practice the faith, according to Mariana Pomiés, director of the polling firm CIFRA. When asked why the pope is visiting such a secular state, Alvar replied, "Why Not?" She added that the Gospel is meant to go everywhere. Leo's schedule in Uruguay includes a welcome ceremony overseen by President Yamandú Orsi and a Sunday mass in Florida, a town known for its religious observance.
In Montevideo, preparations are visible in the form of large posters and banners. Ana Maria Saprissa, a 70-year-old retiree, expressed gratitude for the visit, saying it brings joy to a tiny country with many needs. In the working-class Casavalle neighborhood, Father Pablo Coimbra, who has served as a pastoral leader for six years, welcomed the attention. He described the area as historically living on the margins of opportunities and possibilities. Dozens of volunteers have cleaned streets and erected a stage outside the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church for Leo's scheduled Saturday visit.
The tour will move to Argentina by Sunday, fulfilling a wish of Pope Francis, who hoped to visit his homeland but never did. Leo's presence there tests how he will handle tensions with right-wing populist leaders. President Javier Milei’s austerity measures have pushed millions into poverty, a situation that contrasts with Leo’s advocacy for the poor. The two also hold differing views on artificial intelligence, with Milei embracing unfettered growth and Leo calling for ethical safeguards in his inaugural encyclical.
The final leg returns Leo to Peru, where he spent two decades as a missionary and bishop. He became a naturalized Peruvian in 2015 and has stated that the country shaped his life more than anything else. He will meet with President Keiko Fujimori and visit cities where he previously lived. During the Fujimori dictatorship, Leo criticized military violence and supported the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. For some Uruguayans, like Juan Martin Guerreiro, the new pope lacks the personal influence of his predecessor, though Guerreiro is willing to give him a chance because he is South American.
