Pope Leo XIV begins Latin America tour three weeks after lung surgery

Pope Leo XIV says he is in “pretty good health” as he begins a 12-day tour of Latin America, just three weeks after surgery to remove a cancerous lung tumour. His decision to travel had been in doubt after doctors found the tumour during a routine scan, but he said he had been convinced the trip should go ahead.

The operation was successful, and doctors say the cancer has not spread. Leo began the tour in Uruguay, where crowds welcomed him in Montevideo; in his first speech, he called for universal healthcare and reflected on people unable to get timely diagnosis or treatment. He will also visit Argentina and Peru, covering more than 20,000 miles, and described the journey as a chance to offer hope.