Pope cleared for South America trip after lung cancer surgery

Only 2 weeks aft undergoing surgery for lung cancer, Pope Leo XIV has been fixed the aesculapian greenish airy to embark connected an ambitious 12-day circuit of South America adjacent month.

"Based connected his existent objective status, arsenic good arsenic the instrumental and laboratory tests performed, determination are nary contraindications that would forestall him from undertaking his upcoming apostolic travel to Latin America arsenic planned," the Vatican said successful a connection connected Monday. "The Pope is pursuing aesculapian recommendations with large attraction and diligence, and with a heavy determination to proceed serving the Church."

The travel to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, acceptable for Nov. 6 to 17, is peculiarly grueling. The 71-year-old pontiff plans to question to 10 cities, committee 14 flights, and be galore nationalist appearances and spiritual ceremonies.

The Vatican besides confirmed that the travel would proceed "according to the programme antecedently published," which means that a sojourn to the Peruvian metropolis of Cuzco, Peru, situated astatine much than 11,000 feet supra oversea level, remains connected the schedule. The thinner aerial determination could airs difficulties for idiosyncratic recovering from lung surgery.

Doubts astir the pope's quality to acquisition the South American travel surfaced again past week, when, connected the proposal of his doctors, Leo canceled a sojourn by chopper to Assisi for an planetary bid gathering to instrumentality spot Tuesday. Doctors said they advised him to bash truthful preventively, due to the fact that of the unpressurized aerial connected the chopper journey.

The upcoming travel carries peculiar idiosyncratic value for the archetypal American-born pope, who spent much than 2 decades moving arsenic a missionary and bishop successful Peru.

"I americium looking guardant to returning to the continent wherever I've experienced truthful galore moments of my life," helium said successful a connection Monday. "May this travel beryllium an juncture for america to unfastened our hearts to 1 another, fortify our communion arsenic brothers and sisters, and renew our committedness to proclaiming the Gospel with joy."

Leo was operated connected Oct. 13, erstwhile doctors removed the little lobe of his right lung after discovering a malignant tumor.  The cancer, identified arsenic a lung adenocarcinoma, was discovered accidentally during a regular abdominal examination, his doctors said. The cognition was successful, without complications, and Leo was discharged from the infirmary connected Oct. 17.

Since leaving the hospital, Leo has gradually resumed his nationalist duties, including his play wide assemblage successful St. Peter's Square and meetings with visiting religion leaders.

In:

• Uruguay
• Peru
• Argentina
• Pope Leo XIV