# Pope Leo's Latin America Trip Begins

> Pope Leo XIV starts 12-day Latin America tour after lung cancer surgery, first stop in secular Uruguay.
- Title: Pope Leo's Latin America Trip Begins · ABC7 New York
- Summary: Pope Leo XIV starts 12-day Latin America tour after lung cancer surgery, first stop in secular Uruguay.
- Keywords: pope leo xiv, uruguay, latin america, lung cancer surgery, catholic church, papal visit, secular country, montevideo, paysandu, florida, ABC7 New York
- Source: ABC7 New York — https://abc7ny.com/story/pope-leo-embarks-latin-america-trip-first-stop-secular-uruguay/20019877
- Published: 2026-11-06T12:26:23+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pope leo xiv, uruguay, latin america, lung cancer surgery, catholic church, papal visit, secular country, montevideo, paysandu, florida, news, local
## Pope Leo's Latin America Trip Begins
Pope Leo XIV starts a 12-day Latin America tour after lung cancer surgery, first stop in secular Uruguay.
## Trip Details
Leo arrives in Montevideo after 13½-hour flight from Rome with a three-day itinerary including a gang violence neighborhood visit, Mass in Paysandú, and Mass in Florida.
## Pope's Health
Vatican communications chief says Leo has passed 14-day convalescence period and his doctors are confident about his recovery.
## Uruguay's Secular Context
Uruguay is Latin America's most secular country with only a fraction of Catholics attending Mass regularly.
## Uruguay's Legal Reforms
Uruguay legalized marijuana for recreational use, decriminalized abortion, and legalized same-sex marriage before approving assisted dying legislation.
## Pope's Visit Goals
Leo aims to remind Uruguayans of their catholic heritage and propose faith as an answer to modern challenges.
## Local Reactions
Uruguayan officials say Leo's visit will revive catholic roots and spark questions about faith and meaning in the country.
## Historical Connection
The Nov. 8 feast commemorates the Virgin of the Thirty-three, a symbol connected to Uruguay's independence movement.
## Key takeaway

Pope Leo XIV begins a 12-day Latin America trip with a stop in Uruguay three weeks after lung cancer surgery.