Pope Leo XIV arrives in Uruguay starting 12-day Latin America tour
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Uruguay to begin a 12-day tour of South America, marking his first major international trip since undergoing lung cancer surgery just weeks ago. Thousands of people welcomed the pontiff with flags and painted faces in Montevideo, where he celebrated his first Mass in the region and urged Catholics to bridge divides and care for the vulnerable. Officials and medical teams reported that the pope is in pretty good health despite the recent operation, which had previously cast doubt on whether the demanding itinerary would take place.
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- ✓ Pope Leo XIV arrived in Uruguay to begin a 12-day tour of South America.
- ✓ The trip comes less than a month after the pope underwent lung cancer surgery.
- ✓ Tens of thousands of people attended the pope's first Mass in Uruguay.
- ✓ The visit to Uruguay is the first papal visit to the country in nearly four decades.
What changed
Pope Leo XIV completed his initial three-day stay in Uruguay and transitioned to Argentina for the second leg of his South American tour.
Live updates
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Pope Leo XIV begins 12-day Latin America tour in Uruguay
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Uruguay to begin a 12-day tour of South America, marking his first major international trip since undergoing lung cancer surgery just weeks ago. Thousands of people welcomed the pontiff with flags and painted faces in Montevideo, where he celebrated his first Mass in the region and urged Catholics to bridge divides and care for the vulnerable. Officials and medical teams reported that the pope is in pretty good health despite the recent operation, which had previously cast doubt on whether the demanding itinerary would take place.
Why it matters
The visit marks the first papal journey to Uruguay in nearly four decades, bringing the leader of the Catholic Church to Latin America's most secular nation. The itinerary includes stops across multiple countries and high-altitude locations exceeding 11,000 feet. The journey also brings the pontiff into direct engagement with the political dynamics of the region, including Argentina.
What is confirmed
- Pope Leo XIV arrived in Uruguay to begin a 12-day tour of South America.
- The trip comes less than a month after the pope underwent lung cancer surgery.
- Tens of thousands of people attended the pope's first Mass in Uruguay.
- The visit to Uruguay is the first papal visit to the country in nearly four decades.
What to watch next
- Monitor public events and speeches during the pope's second leg in Argentina.
- Observe any health updates or schedule modifications from Vatican officials regarding high-altitude travel.
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (23)
- www.nytimes.com — The New York Times - Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos
- www.aljazeera.com — Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
- abc13.com — A Pacific storm could bring rain to Texas later this week
- www.osvnews.com — Pope Leo’s doctors confirm his visit to Latin America two weeks after lung surgery
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- CNN — Pope Leo’s Latin America trip will take him above 11,000 feet, weeks after lung cancer surgery
- The New York Times — 12 Planes in 12 Days: Pope Begins Major Latin America Tour, Weeks After Surgery
- The Atlantic — Pope Leo Reckons With the Latin American Right
- NBC News — Pope Leo XIV, who had cancer surgery just weeks ago, begins grueling South American tour
- AP News — Pope Leo XIV begins 3-day South American visit in Uruguay less than a month after his lung surgery
- Al Jazeera — Pope Leo arrives in Uruguay starting 12-day Latin America tour
- WSJ — Pope Leo Visits a Latin America That’s Losing Its Religion
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