Pope Leo XIV departed Rome on Friday for a deeply personal 12-day journey across South America, just three weeks after undergoing surgery for lung cancer. The 71-year-old pontiff, visibly smiling, waved to well-wishers at Fiumicino airport before boarding his flight under overcast skies shortly after 0600 GMT.
A Homecoming of the Heart
For Pope Leo, this trip is more than a diplomatic mission; it is a return to the continent that shaped his vocation. The first US-born pope spent nearly two decades as a missionary in Peru, forging a bond that he described on Wednesday as a longing to revisit those countries "so dear to me." His itinerary includes Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, marking one of the most demanding papal tours in recent memory.
The pope expressed hope that the visit would "strengthen faith, renew hope, and rekindle the fire of charity" in a region grappling with rising inequality, violence, demographic shifts, and a decline in Catholic adherence.
Medical Clearance and Security
Despite the recent surgery on October 13 to remove a cancerous tumor, Vatican officials confirmed that doctors have given him the green light to travel. No special medical measures are required beyond the standard care provided on papal trips, according to the Vatican.
The tour begins in Uruguay, Latin America's most secular nation and one of its wealthiest. A massive security operation is underway, with 5,000 police officers and 1,000 soldiers mobilized. Pope Leo will travel along Montevideo's waterfront promenade in a custom-built popemobile before meeting left-wing President Yamandu Orsi and receiving the keys to the city.
"I have family members who plan to go to the waterfront to watch him pass," Janet Rodríguez, 47, told AFP. "I won't be going, as I'm not religious. But it's great that someone of such importance is coming."
Cardinal Daniel Sturla, archbishop of Montevideo, noted that interest in the pope's visit extends far beyond Catholic circles, with tickets for masses in Paysandu and Florida selling out quickly. The liberal nation's stance on same-sex marriage, abortion, and euthanasia, which was legalized last year, contrasts with the Church's teachings. Pope Leo is expected to advocate for the protection of life and traditional family values during his visit.
As the papal plane heads to Montevideo, the eyes of the Catholic world are on a pontiff determined to bridge divides and offer a message of compassion and resilience.
