Pope Leo left Rome on Friday (November 6) for an ambitious 12-day trip across South America expected to attract millions-strong crowds, as the first US-born pope returns to a Catholic stronghold where he lived for decades as a missionary.

Leo, who is 71 and underwent lung cancer surgery last month, will visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru through November 17 on one of the most demanding overseas tours taken by a Catholic leader in decades.

The Vatican said this week that the pope had completely healed from his operation and no special precautions were being taken for the tour, on which Leo will travel some 31,000 km (19,300 miles) across 10 cities and give 36 speeches.

The pope, who was born in Chicago but spent decades in Peru and became a Peruvian citizen, considers the tour a "homecoming to places where he spent a long time and to which he feels closely connected," said Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

ROME, ITALY (NOVEMBER 6, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. PLANE ON TARMAC

2. FLAGS OF VATICAN CITY AND ITALY FLUTTERING IN WIND

3. POPE LEO GETTING OUT OF CAR

4. LEO GREETING OFFICIALS

5. LEO BOARDING PLANE

6. OFFICIALS BOARDING PLANE

7. FLAGS OF VATICAN CITY AND ITALY FLUTTERING IN WIND

8. FLIGHT CREW STANDING ON TARMAC

9. VARIOUS OF LEO SEEN THROUGH PLANE WINDOW

10. VARIOUS OF PLANES TAKING OFF OVER PLANE CARRYING LEO ON TARMAC

11. VARIOUS OF PLANE CARRYING LEO TAXIING

12. PLANE TAKING OFF