Pope Leo XIV landed in Montevideo on Friday to begin a 12-day apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, his first major overseas trip since lung cancer surgery in October.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Uruguay on Friday to begin a 12-day apostolic journey to Latin America, his sixth international trip since becoming pope and his first major overseas visit since undergoing lung cancer surgery on Oct. 13.
The papal plane, a chartered ITA Airways flight, departed Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport at 7:05 AM Rome time and landed at Carrasco International Airport in Montevideo at 4:20 p.m. local time, according to Rome Reports. Vatican News reported the landing time as 8:19 PM Rome time. Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi welcomed the pope at the airport, along with Cardinal Daniel Sturla, Archbishop of Montevideo; Bishop Milton Tróccoli, president of the Uruguayan Episcopal Conference; and Apostolic Nuncio Gianfranco Gallone.
The pope’s programme in Montevideo began with a welcome ceremony at 5:30 PM local time in Independence Square, followed by meetings with representatives of the authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps. He then visited President Orsi and celebrated Vespers with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, and seminarians at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Saints Philip and James.
The trip comes less than a month after Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung for a localized lung adenocarcinoma. Vatican officials said he completed his two-week recovery period and requires no further oncological treatment. Maria Montserrat Alvarado, the Vatican’s new communications chief, said the pontiff’s doctors are very confident and that he will have medical care on board should something happen.
Speaking to journalists during the flight, Pope Leo said he had no doubt the trip would go forward. “I know some people were doubtful about this trip taking place. I confess that from the first day I had no doubt and was convinced that this trip had to go forward,” he said. He added, “I’m very happy to say, praise the Lord, and thanks to wonderful medical assistance, I’m here today, I think, in fairly good shape.”
The apostolic journey runs from Nov. 6 to Nov. 17 and covers Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. After Uruguay, the pope will travel to Argentina, visiting Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Luján. He will then continue to Peru, where he will visit Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco, and Pucallpa. During the visit, Pope Leo is expected to make approximately a dozen flights and visit ten cities, delivering nearly 40 addresses in Spanish.
Uruguay last received a papal visit in 1988, when Pope John Paul II traveled to the country. It is considered Latin America’s most secular country, with a longstanding separation between church and state.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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