Pope Leo XIV's Health Casts Shadow Over Planned South America Visit

Catholics throughout South America are offering prayers for Pope Leo XIV following his lung cancer surgery, as uncertainty looms over his highly anticipated visit to the region scheduled for next month. The Vatican reported that the pontiff is recuperating as expected after the procedure, and the trip remains on his schedule.

However, Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori expressed a more cautious outlook, suggesting the recovery could take longer than anticipated, potentially necessitating adjustments to the Nov. 6-17 itinerary. The planned 12-day tour would be the longest of Leo XIV’s papacy, involving extensive travel across Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.

Leo XIV, who turns 71 this year, is scheduled to celebrate Masses and meet with various groups in six cities across Uruguay and Argentina. His visit to Peru holds particular significance, as he spent two decades there as a missionary and bishop in the coastal city of Chiclayo. The itinerary includes travel to Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco high in the Andes, and the Amazonian city of Pucallpa. The high altitude of Cusco, approximately 3,400 meters above sea level, could present a challenge so soon after his lung surgery.

Church leaders in Argentina, the homeland of Leo XIV’s predecessor Pope Francis, have urged the faithful to prioritize the pontiff's well-being over their excitement for the country's first papal visit in four decades. Cardinal Ángel Rossi, archbishop of Córdoba, one of Leo XIV's planned stops, stated, "Sometimes we think selfishly about his coming, but the first thing we need to think about is his health."

Political leaders from across Argentina's political spectrum, including President Javier Milei and Governor Axel Kicillof, have extended well wishes for the pope's speedy recovery. Cardinal Daniel Sturla, archbishop of Montevideo, acknowledged the risk that the visit might be canceled, stating, "First, let us pray that he comes. We run the risk of being told in the coming days that he won’t be able to come."

In Chiclayo, the news of the pope's diagnosis shifted the mood from excitement to apprehension. The Rev. Elmer Uchofen recalled Leo XIV’s past efforts, including securing oxygen plants during the COVID-19 pandemic and visiting flood victims and prisoners. Betania Marina Rodríguez, who leads a local association for Venezuelan migrants and worked closely with Leo XIV, described a mix of emotions, wanting him healthy while also longing for his visit.

Devotion was visible in Lima, where individuals gathered to pray. Teresa Ramírez, 73, expressed hope for his recovery and eventual arrival in Peru. Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, became a Peruvian citizen in 2015 and renewed his national identity document last year after assuming the papacy. Residents at a nursing home in Callao, another planned stop, shared their hopes that prayers would bring comfort to the recovering pontiff.