- Doctors have declared Pope Leo fit to travel for his scheduled 10-city tour of South America from 6 to 17 November, following a successful recovery from lung cancer surgery.
- The 71-year-old pontiff underwent an operation on 13 October to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after being diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer.
- Citing the Pope's personal physician Luigi Carbone, the Vatican confirmed that recent medical tests show good health and favourable clinical conditions, with no contraindications preventing the trip.
- The 11-day journey across Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru is set to proceed without changes to its schedule, covering roughly 31,000 kilometres and including 36 planned speeches.
- Having been discharged from hospital on 17 October, Pope Leo has gradually resumed normal duties, though he previously cancelled a trip to Assisi on medical advice to avoid a helicopter flight.
IN FULL
Pope Leo cleared by Vatican doctors for South America trip just weeks after cancer surgery