Vatican unveils full itinerary for Pope Leo XIV's South America trip, says he is fit to travel
File photo of Pope Leo XIV (Loyola Press)The Vatican on Tuesday unveiled the full program for Pope Leo XIV's November 6–17 journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru — 10 cities, roughly a dozen flights, about 40 addresses delivered in Spanish, nine Masses and three youth vigils — and said the pope, less than a month after lung cancer surgery, is healthy and needs no extra medical precautions for the trip.
Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni and Dicastery for Communication Prefect Maria Montserrat Alvarado presented the itinerary at a briefing on Tuesday, describing the voyage as one of communion, encounter and unity. The pope, 71, leaves Friday for what officials called one of the most intense papal tours in decades: Uruguay from November 6–8, Argentina from November 8–11 and Peru from November 11–17, covering some 31,000 kilometers with 36 speeches planned.
“The pope is in good health,” Bruni said at the briefing. “We're not talking of a permanent condition. We're talking about something that you heal from, because it is surgery.” Leo had surgery on October 13 to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. He was treated for lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, and his doctors have said examinations confirmed the disease was localized and that he would not require further treatment.
Bruni said no additional medical measures would be necessary during the trip: the Vatican medical personnel who usually travel with the pope will do so, without changes, and ambulances that are usually part of the pope's travelling convoy will be along as on previous visits. Alvarado said the pope's stamina was “fantastic” and that his doctors are very confident. Medical experts told Reuters the decision to clear him to fly indicated the risk of complications was low, though with high-altitude stops in Peru — including Cusco, at 3,399 meters above sea level — his doctors will likely advise rest breaks and supplemental oxygen as needed.
The schedule goes beyond the formal encounters with civil authorities, bishops and synodal teams. The pope will also meet Augustinian communities, victims of clerical sexual abuse, prisoners, the poor and people affected by environmental exploitation, Alvarado said. The journey is the first papal visit to Uruguay since 1988 and to Argentina since 1987. Peru is a personal homecoming: Leo served there as a missionary and bishop for nearly twenty years and holds Peruvian citizenship.
Alongside the program, the Holy See Press Office released 2024 pastoral statistics for the three countries: Uruguay counts about 2,754,000 Catholics (76.9 percent of the population), Argentina about 43,170,000 (91.7 percent) and Peru about 31,074,000 (91.3 percent). Alvarado said the pope personally confirmed the program with no changes and described him as “so excited” and “grateful” for the faithful's concern for his health.
Sources: Reuters, “Pope Leo healthy and needs no extra measures for South America trip, Vatican says” (Nov. 3, 2026); CathoNews, “Vatican Details Leo XIV's Latin America Mission Path” (Nov. 3, 2026).
Sponsored