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Pope begins lengthy trip to Latin America weeks after lung cancer surgery

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The 71-year-old pontiff is proceeding with his multi-flight schedule after doctors confirmed the cancer removed from his right lung had not spread. Along with historic stops in Uruguay and his predecessor's homeland of Argentina, the itinerary includes high-altitude masses and remote travel in the Peruvian Amazon. Throughout all three host nations, the pontiff has scheduled dedicated meetings with survivors of clerical sexual abuse.

Key points

  • The Vatican is implementing no extraordinary medical measures despite the pontiff undergo…: The Vatican is implementing no extraordinary medical measures despite the pontiff undergoing major surgery merely three weeks prior.
  • Argentine President Javier Milei publicly welcomed the visit despite historical ideologic…: Argentine President Javier Milei publicly welcomed the visit despite historical ideological clashes between his administration and Church doctrine.
  • The tour concludes in Peru where the US-born pope holds citizenship after serving as bish…: The tour concludes in Peru where the US-born pope holds citizenship after serving as bishop of Chiclayo for nearly a decade.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

- Published

Pope Leo XIV is beginning a lengthy trip to Latin America just three weeks after surgery for lung cancer - a tour that includes a much-anticipated "homecoming" to Peru where he was a priest for many years.

The Vatican says no extraordinary measures are being taken in relation to the Pope's health, describing him as a "71-year-old who has undergone an operation" not someone with a "permanent medical condition".

It was Leo himself who revealed last month that doctors had discovered a tumour during a routine scan. The growth was removed along with the lower lobe of his right lung and his medical team then confirmed the cancer had not spread.

At a briefing in Rome ahead of the trip, which takes in Uruguay and Argentina as well as Peru, a spokeswoman stressed that Pope Leo had "fantastic stamina" and was "extremely enthusiastic" about the schedule which he had "personally confirmed... with no changes".

Back on track

"The Vatican's message with this trip is, 'that was a short episode and now we're back on track'," Professor Massimo Faggioli…

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