Pope Leo XIV will on Friday begin a 12-day tour of South America, marking his longest foreign trip since his election as head of the Roman Catholic Church last year.
The 71-year-old pontiff is expected to arrive in Uruguay, beginning with its capital, Montevideo, where he will be received in the evening.
His itinerary also includes neighbouring Argentina and Peru, where he spent more than two decades as a missionary with the Augustinian order before rising to become a bishop.
The U.S.-born pope, who holds Peruvian citizenship and speaks fluent Spanish, is expected to undertake several religious and diplomatic engagements during the visit.
The trip had faced uncertainty following concerns about the pontiff’s health after his cancer diagnosis. He underwent surgery in mid-October, during which part of his right lung was removed.
However, his doctors subsequently cleared him for the journey, confirming that he was cancer-free.
The Vatican has also confirmed that the pope’s original itinerary remains unchanged, despite the medical concerns.
Apart from several meetings and religious services, the programme includes an excursion to the Peruvian Andes, where the pontiff is expected to visit an area approximately 3,700 metres above sea level.
South America remains one of the world’s strongest Catholic regions, with the proportion of Catholics significantly higher than in Europe.
However, the religious and political environments across the three countries differ considerably. Uruguay maintains a strict separation between church and state, unlike Argentina and Peru.
The visit also carries historical significance, particularly in Argentina, the birthplace of Pope Francis, Leo XIV’s predecessor, who died at Easter last year without ever returning to his homeland as pope.
The political leadership of the three countries presents another dimension to the visit. Argentina and Peru are governed by right-wing populist leaders, Presidents Javier Milei and Keiko Fujimori, respectively, while Uruguay is led by President Yamandú Orsi, a member of a left-wing political alliance.
The 12-day journey is expected to provide Pope Leo XIV with an opportunity to strengthen the Catholic Church’s presence in the region while engaging with political leaders, religious communities and ordinary citizens.
