Pope Leo XIV told journalists travelling with him to Latin America that he is “in very good health”, in his first comments since recovering from surgery for lung cancer. The 71-year-old pope arrived in Uruguay, the first stop on a 12-day tour that he is undertaking just three weeks after his operation. He also said he was “very happy” to be able to make the trip, which had been thrown into doubt last month when doctors discovered a tumour during a routine scan.
Pope Leo XIV confirmed that, “thanks to the wonderful medical staff… I believe I am in very good health”. He stressed that “from the first day, I never had any doubts; I was convinced that this trip had to go ahead”. Last month’s operation to remove the tumour was successful, and his doctors say the cancer has not spread.
The tour will include Argentina and a much-anticipated return to Peru, which the Vatican described as a “homecoming”, as the pope was posted there for many years as a missionary and later as a bishop. On Friday, he arrived in Montevideo, where he was greeted by crowds of people chanting his name as he passed by in his Popemobile.
In his first speech of the trip, the pope stressed that universal healthcare must be “accessible to all”. He told the crowd in Plaza Independencia that the care he received made him think of “many men and women who do not have the means to get a timely diagnosis” or to receive treatment. He ended his day with a prayer at the Cathedral of Montevideo. Pope Leo will travel more than 20,000 miles on his sixth international tour. On Sunday he will travel to Argentina, the homeland of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who did not return during his papacy. The pope said his visit was about being close to people who were seeking a message of “hope” from the Church.
Taken from BBC News