South Americans pray for Pope Leo's recovery as uncertainty hangs over his visit

Pope Leo XIV’s lung cancer diagnosis has placed his planned South American visit in doubt. The pope underwent surgery and is now recovering. The news prompted prayers across Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, where many people feel a strong personal or national connection to him.

The Vatican said Wednesday that Leo was recuperating as expected and that the November trip remained on his schedule. However, Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori said recovery could take “several weeks, longer than expected.” That warning matters because the visit involves long flights, multiple cities and difficult physical conditions.

The pope’s health is therefore the immediate issue surrounding the trip. Church leaders in Argentina and Uruguay urged people to prioritize his well-being over their excitement. The Vatican has not canceled the itinerary, but its final shape may depend on Leo’s progress and medical advice before the planned Nov. 6-17 journey.

Pope Leo XIV’s planned South American visit is a 12-day journey scheduled for Nov. 6-17. It would take him through Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The trip matters because it would bring the first American pope to countries that have strong Catholic ties and, in Peru, to places central to his own life.

In Uruguay and Argentina, Leo is scheduled to celebrate Masses and meet worshippers, clergy and political leaders in six cities. In Peru, he would travel from Lima to his former diocese in Chiclayo, then to Cusco, the ancient Inca capital, and Pucallpa in the Amazon region.

The itinerary is still officially active, but Leo’s recovery could force changes. Peru is described as his adopted homeland because he spent 20 years there as a missionary and bishop. Argentina is also important because it was the homeland of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

Leo’s planned tour would be unusually demanding because of its distance, pace and varied environments. It would last 12 days and cover more than 31,000 kilometers, or 19,000 miles. The journey would be the longest of his papacy so far.

The itinerary includes a dozen flights and two helicopter rides. Leo would visit six cities in Uruguay and Argentina, then travel across Peru. His Peruvian route would link Lima, the coastal city of Chiclayo, high-altitude Cusco and the Amazonian city of Pucallpa. These stops require movement between very different settings.

The physical burden is especially important after lung surgery. The schedule combines repeated travel with public Masses and meetings with worshippers, clergy and political leaders. Cusco sits about 3,400 meters above sea level, making the mountain portion a particular concern while Leo is still recovering.

If Leo’s recovery takes longer than expected, the visit could be altered or canceled. The concern is not only the diagnosis itself, but the demanding schedule planned soon after lung surgery. It includes long-distance travel, public events and difficult changes in altitude and climate.

Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori said recovery might take “several weeks, longer than expected.” In Uruguay, Cardinal Daniel Sturla warned that people could soon be told Leo would not be able to come. He said the decision would ultimately rest with the pope’s doctors.

For now, the Vatican says the trip remains on the schedule. Still, church leaders in Argentina have asked parishioners to put Leo’s well-being ahead of their anticipation. Any changes could affect stops, events or the entire journey, depending on his medical progress and doctors’ assessment.

Cusco could be especially difficult because it is high in the Andes, where the air contains less available oxygen than at sea level. Someone recovering from lung surgery may have less breathing reserve, so the altitude can place extra strain on the body. The article identifies this as a particular concern for Leo.

The city stands roughly 3,400 meters, or 11,150 feet, above sea level. Leo is scheduled to travel there after visiting Lima and his former diocese in Chiclayo. He would also continue to other destinations, making the altitude part of a broader sequence of travel rather than an isolated stop.

The article does not give a medical prediction for Leo at Cusco’s altitude. It does show why the location matters: the trip would combine recent lung surgery, repeated flights, public duties and thin mountain air. His doctors’ assessment could therefore influence whether this stop stays unchanged.

The article places the medical decision with Leo’s doctors. Cardinal Daniel Sturla of Montevideo said the final decision would ultimately rest with them. Their assessment would need to account for Leo’s recovery from lung surgery and the demanding conditions of the planned tour.

The Vatican’s role is to report his condition and manage the official schedule. It said Leo was recuperating as expected and that the visit remained on the calendar. Host governments do not decide his medical fitness, but their leaders have expressed support and acknowledged that changes may be necessary.

Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori offered a cautious warning about a longer recovery. Leaders in Argentina, including President Javier Milei and Buenos Aires Gov. Axel Kicillof, wished Leo well. Church leaders in all three countries urged patience, showing that political and religious authorities are preparing for either the planned visit or revisions.

The visit carries different meanings across the three countries. Peru is Leo’s adopted homeland, where he spent 20 years as a missionary and bishop of Chiclayo. Argentina is the homeland of his predecessor, Pope Francis, and has not hosted a pope in four decades. Uruguay last received a pope in the 1980s.

Leo’s personal history is especially visible in Peru. In Chiclayo, people remember him helping secure oxygen plants during the COVID-19 pandemic, aiding flood victims and celebrating Mass with prisoners. His planned route would return him to his former diocese before continuing to Cusco and Pucallpa.

The religious setting also differs. Argentina is predominantly Catholic, while Uruguay is secular and has an officially observed Family Day instead of Christmas. Leo’s visit is expected to energize Uruguay’s Catholic minority. Across all three countries, prayers and public support show the visit’s emotional importance.