The Pope's trip to Argentina, Uruguay and Peru is still on, and the Church reveals new details despite doubts about his health

ROME.– Despite the uncertainty raised by the lung cancer surgery undergone by Pope Leo XIV, his long-awaited tour of Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru remains on track, at least for now. At an international press conference held this Friday, representatives of the Latin American Church confirmed that preparations to receive the pontiff in November are moving forward, although they made clear that his recovery takes precedence over any commitment. "The most important thing today is the Pope's health, that he is well, that he can recover. Certainly, we await him with all our hearts," said Monsignor Alejandro Musolino, auxiliary bishop of Córdoba, who took part in the conference on behalf of Cardinal Ángel Rossi and the national commission in charge of organizing the visit to Argentina. View of the Gemelli hospital in Rome, where Pope Leo XIV is recovering from surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung ANDREAS SOLARO - AFP The virtual meeting, convened by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN International), brought together church representatives from the three countries included in the tour, scheduled for November 6 to 17, just a few weeks after the surgery performed on Tuesday at the Gemelli hospital in Rome. The Vatican reported this Friday that Leo XIV, 71, is showing favorable progress. However, the definitive results of the analysis of the extracted lung tissue are still pending, which will determine whether he needs further treatment. From "rejected stones" to "cornerstones" In Argentina, the organizing committee, which has been working on preparations for four months, chose as the guiding theme of the entire visit point 16 of the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, focused on human dignity and the inclusion of those who are often marginalized. The image of "rejected stones" that can become "cornerstones" inspired the choice of the places the pontiff will visit and the planned activities. Robert Prevost alongside Pope Francis Along the same lines, the organizers proposed as the motto "All are welcome, go and announce," a slogan that seeks not only to welcome Leo XIV but also to leave a mission for the Argentine Church after his departure, especially linked to accompanying the most vulnerable sectors. Musolino announced that the agenda, planned for November 8 to 11, will include three large open-air Masses in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Luján, as well as meetings with young people and visits to social assistance institutions. Among the chosen venues are the Cottolengo Don Orione, where the aim will be to highlight human dignity, and the Devoto prison, a visit with strong pastoral significance. "Children of God also live there, even if they have made mistakes," explained Musolino, who recalled that Francis used to wonder, during his visits to penitentiary facilities, why the inmates were behind bars and he was not. Another of the central moments will be a tribute to Francis at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires, with the participation of Argentine bishops and members of the synodal teams. Thousands of faithful take part in the 52nd Pilgrimage to Luján Nicolás Suárez The organization is also paying special attention to young people. Musolino recalled that 2.8 million people made the pilgrimage to Luján during the first weekend of October, a turnout that led to reconsidering the choice of limited-capacity venues. Another challenge will be ensuring that the visit has a truly nationwide reach, even though Leo XIV will only visit three destinations due to time and logistics constraints. "A detail that is not minor is that all of Argentina should feel that the Pope is coming to visit it," explained Musolino. For this reason, the organizers expect faithful from different provinces to take part in the celebrations and share their testimonies. So-called "Pope Fests" will also be organized, outdoor gatherings where the faithful can come together to follow the pontiff's activities via live broadcasts and share the celebrations from afar. Despite the enthusiasm for the visit, Musolino insisted that the pontiff's recovery takes precedence over any schedule. "The most important thing is not the anxiety over whether he comes or not, but that we pray and hope he comes when he is well," he said. Uruguay and the challenge of secularization From Montevideo, Cardinal Daniel Sturla conveyed a similar message. "We are here with great expectation, but above all praying for the Pope's health and well-being. We place that above any wish we have," he said. Sturla explained that the Church and the Uruguayan state continue working together to receive the pontiff, who will have institutional and pastoral activities, including a visit to one of the most vulnerable neighborhoods of Montevideo. A nun holds an image of Pope Leo XIV as she prays before a Mass in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican Gregorio Borgia - AP The archbishop noted that Uruguay is one of the most secularized countries in Latin America. According to the figures he cited, only 33% of Uruguayans identify as Catholic, while 28% believe in God without belonging to any religion, 11% profess other faiths, and another 28% declare themselves agnostic or atheist. To illustrate this phenomenon, he recalled that Christmas is officially called Family Day and Holy Week is called Tourism Week. "The Uruguayan Church rows and rows. It is a poor, free, small, and beautiful Church," he said. Even so, he stated that around 60% of Uruguayans agree with the visit. Peru awaits the Pope "at home" From Peru, Monsignor Edinson Farfán, an Augustinian bishop, also conveyed a message of hope and caution. "We care about his health, that his recovery be optimal, and if the trip needs to be postponed, fine. But so far everything indicates that the Holy Father will visit South America," he said. Prevost blesses the reception center of Villa San Vicente de Paul, on the outskirts of Chiclayo The cleric highlighted Leo XIV's special bond with Peru, where he developed much of his pastoral career. "He is coming to his home. We do not need to introduce him to anything because he is aware of everything that happens in Peru," he noted. Farfán explained that four cities were chosen for the itinerary, seeking to represent the country's geographic diversity. Lima, as the capital; Cusco, in the Andean region; Pucallpa, in the Amazon; and Chiclayo, the diocese where Leo XIV was bishop. "Chiclayo had to be visited. It was his wish to reach his beloved diocese," he said. During the conference, Luis Vildoso, representative of ACN International, highlighted that the Latin American Church retains great vitality despite the social challenges and the situations of violence and persecution faced by religious communities in countries such as Mexico and Colombia.