Pope Leo XIV confirmed Monday that he will make his Nov. 6-17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru as planned, after the Vatican said his doctors see no medical reason to cancel following lung cancer surgery.
“It fills me with joy to return to the continent where I have lived so many moments of my life,” the pope wrote on X. The Vatican press office said the cancer was localized and no further treatment is needed, and that his personal doctor, Luigi Carbone, found no medical reason against the journey. Milei shared the post, writing that he felt enormous joy.
Me llena de alegría regresar al continente en el que he vivido tantos momentos de mi vida. Que este viaje sea una ocasión para abrir nuestros corazones los unos a los otros, fortalecer nuestra comunión como hermanos y hermanas, y renovar nuestro compromiso de anunciar el Evangelio con alegría. #Uruguay #Argentina #Perú
Translation: "It fills me with joy to return to the continent where I have lived so many moments of my life. May this journey be an occasion to open our hearts to one another, strengthen our communion as brothers and sisters, and renew our commitment to proclaim the Gospel with joy. #Uruguay #Argentina #Peru"
The Vatican said the trip will go ahead as scheduled under the program published earlier. In Argentina, from Nov. 8 to 11, Leo is due to meet President Milei at the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace, celebrate Masses in Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján, and visit a federal prison and a care home. It will be the first papal visit to the country since 1987, and the Vatican released the itinerary in September.
For residents, the holidays and road closures are set. Nov. 9 is a national holiday, Nov. 10 is a holiday only in Córdoba province and Buenos Aires city, and Nov. 11 only in Buenos Aires province, under a decree in the official gazette.
Avenida del Libertador in Buenos Aires’ Palermo district, around the Monumento de los Españoles where the main Mass and a youth vigil will take place, is already partly closed, and the city government said total closures will phase in from Nov. 4 to 14.
The government awarded the production of the Mass and the youth vigil in Buenos Aires to the events company DF Entertainment without a public tender, citing the short time left, La Nación reported. Officials told the paper the process was posted on the government’s procurement portal and three companies were invited. The paper also reported that a final Vatican advance team is due in Argentina on Nov. 2.
Leo is due in Montevideo on Nov. 6 and lands in Buenos Aires on Nov. 8 at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, the city’s domestic airport, at 4:30 p.m.