Pope Leo XIV arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Friday, November 6, 2026, to begin a 12-day tour of three South American countries. The 71-year-old pontiff was greeted at Carrasco International Airport by President Yamandú Orsi following a flight of nearly 14 hours from Rome. This journey marks the Pope’s first major overseas visit since undergoing surgery on October 13, 2026, to remove the lower lobe of his right lung following a cancer diagnosis.
The tour includes stops in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, involving 12 flights, two helicopter rides, and 36 scheduled speeches. Vatican communications chief Maria Montserrat Alvarado stated that the Pope has completed a two-week recovery period and that doctors are confident in his stamina. The trip is the first papal visit to Uruguay since 1988, a nation where holidays like Christmas and Easter are officially designated as "Family Day" and "Tourism Week."
During his three days in Uruguay, Pope Leo is scheduled to visit a neighborhood affected by gang violence and lead Masses in the cities of Paysandú and Florida. On Sunday, November 8, he will travel to Argentina, the home country of his predecessor, Pope Francis. The tour will conclude in Peru, where the Pope holds citizenship and previously served as a missionary and Bishop of Chiclayo for two decades. The schedule includes a visit to Cusco, located more than 11,000 feet above sea level, and a meeting with Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori.
The visit also highlights the differing religious landscapes across South America. In Uruguay, where about one-third of the population identifies as Catholic, the public has legalized recreational marijuana, abortion, same-sex marriage, and assisted dying. Observers note that while the visit has generated local enthusiasm—with tickets for a prayer vigil at Centenario Stadium snapped up in two days—the long-term impact on religious participation in the secular environment remains uncertain. In Peru, the visit marks a personal return for a leader who spent 20 years in the country and was naturalized as a citizen in 2015.
The tour serves as a physical demonstration of the Pope’s health following his recent lung surgery. The Vatican has confirmed that medical care is available on board his flights should it be required, but officials maintain he currently needs no further treatment. The journey continues through Argentina over the weekend and into the following week. The 12-day tour is scheduled to conclude in Peru on November 17, 2026.