Pope: trip to South America confirmed for 6 to 17 November

Pope Leo XIV will travel to South America as planned. This was announced on the afternoon of Monday 26 October by the Holy See Press Office, following medical examinations which confirmed that the Pope is in good health. The Pope’s Apostolic Journey will begin on 6 November and last for eleven days, during which he will visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. “Given his current clinical condition and the results of the diagnostic and laboratory tests carried out, there are no contraindications that would prevent him from undertaking the forthcoming Apostolic Journey to Latin America as planned,” said Luigi Carbone, Leo XIV’s doctor.

The Pope reacted enthusiastically to the good news, saying he was ‘delighted’ to be able to return to the continent where he had spent so many moments of his life.

The decision not to cancel the trip to Latin America is part of the Pope’s positive post-operative recovery. As reported in a Vatican statement, since his return, the Holy Father ‘has gradually resumed his activities’ and has been able to fulfil ‘important appointments and public engagements’, whilst taking care of his health. Dr Luigi Carbone also reassures us that ‘the latest medical examinations confirm the good health and favourable clinical condition’ of Leo XIV, who ‘is following medical advice scrupulously and attentively, and with deep determination to continue serving the Church’.

The operation the Pope underwent two weeks ago to remove a tumour from his right lung had, in fact, gone without complications, and subsequent medical examinations confirmed that the tumour was localised. The Pope will therefore not require any further cancer treatment.