Pope Leo XIV sets off for South America less than a month after lung surgery

Pope Leo XIV began his first apostolic journey to South America on Friday 6 November 2026. He will visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, setting off less than a month after lung surgery.

Surgery and health

The 71-year-old pope had surgery on 13 October 2026 at Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic. Doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung and found an adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer.

Earlier, the pope told the faithful in St Peter's Square that the nodule had been found at a very early stage and was well contained. The Vatican said recovery was expected to take about a week.

In late October the Vatican said the trip would go ahead as planned. Its statement cited the pope's personal doctor, Luigi Carbone, saying the latest tests confirmed the pope's good health and a favourable clinical condition after the operation. The pope has returned to his duties. On 4 November he received Bob Dylan in a private audience.

The programme

The trip will last about 11 days. Polish media describe it as the longest journey of his pontificate. It is scheduled for 6–17 November 2026, and according to earlier announcements the route covers about 31,000 kilometres and 14 flights.

• In Uruguay, the most secularised country in the region, the pope will spend three days.
• He will be in Argentina from 8 to 11 November, where he will meet, among others, President Javier Milei.
• In Peru, where he lived for more than 20 years, he will stay from 11 to 16 November.

Meetings with people harmed by clergy have also been announced in Argentina and Peru.

What this means for you

The trip has no direct effect on daily life in the UK. However, the pope is an important figure for many Catholics, including in Polish parishes in the UK. Coverage of the journey can be expected in the media.