Pope Leo XIV on Friday began a 12-day visit to South America, marking his longest international journey since becoming pontiff last year.
The pope’s first destination is Uruguay, where he is expected to arrive in the capital, Montevideo, in the evening.
He will subsequently travel to Argentina and Peru, where he spent more than two decades serving as a missionary with the Augustinians before later becoming a bishop.
The U.S.-born pontiff, who holds Peruvian citizenship, is also fluent in Spanish.
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There had recently been uncertainty over whether the 71-year-old pope would embark on the journey following his cancer diagnosis.
Leo underwent lung surgery in mid-October, during which part of his right lung was removed. However, his medical team subsequently cleared him for the trip, confirming that he was cancer-free.
The Vatican has confirmed that the pope’s itinerary remains unchanged.
His schedule includes several meetings and religious services, alongside a journey to an altitude of approximately 3,700 metres in the Peruvian Andes.
Catholic representation in South America is considerably higher than in Europe.
Uruguay, unlike Argentina and Peru, maintains a strict separation between religion and government.
Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, was born in Argentina but never returned to his homeland as pontiff. He died during Easter last year.
Argentina and Peru are currently led by right-wing populist presidents, Javier Milei and Keiko Fujimori, respectively.
Meanwhile, Uruguay is governed by Yamandú Orsi, who belongs to a left-wing political alliance.
NAN
