Pope Leo XIV arrives in Uruguay for Latin American trip
The pope begins his twelve-day visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru less than a month after lung surgery.
There is news on this story (Sunday, 8 November 2026, 05:47): Argentina arrests person after threat against Pope Leo
Follow-up to: Pope Leo begins Latin America tour after operation Friday, 6 November 2026, 06:12
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Pope Leo XIV arrived in Montevideo on Friday, the first stop on his journey through Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. His reception is receiving extra attention because he underwent lung surgery less than a month ago.
The pope landed at Montevideo airport on Friday afternoon local time, where he was received by Uruguay’s president, Yamandú Orsi. According to the Vatican, Leo XIV departed Rome in the morning and arrived at 4.19pm local time.
The trip runs from 6 to 17 November inclusive. The pope will remain in Uruguay until 8 November, then travel to Argentina and conclude the visit in Peru. It is his first trip to Latin America as pope and, according to AP, the first papal visit to Uruguay since 1988.
The arrival is a new development surrounding the trip. De Vector previously reported that the visit had been uncertain after Leo’s operation. According to AP, his doctors considered him sufficiently recovered to travel after the operation on 13 October; medical support will remain available during the trip.
Uruguay is a special stop for the Catholic Church. The country is considered one of the most secular in Latin America. Among other things, the pope will visit a neighbourhood affected by gang violence and hold Masses in Paysandú and Florida.
The trip therefore has both a religious and a social dimension. The Catholic Church hopes to renew interest in a highly secularised society. At the same time, experts involved stress that a papal visit does not automatically lead to increased church attendance.
For the Netherlands, the main significance is that the trip provides a first impression of Leo’s international agenda after his operation. The coming days will show whether the emphasis is on church renewal, social issues and peace, or mainly on the symbolic return of a pope to the continent where he worked as a priest for many years.
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The arrival, travel dates, reception and route were confirmed by AP and the Vatican. The medical context is limited to publicly reported recovery and travel details and contains no medical conclusion for readers.
- confirmed Pope Leo XIV arrived in Montevideo on 6 November 2026. — Confirmed by AP and the official Vatican report. source
- confirmed The trip runs from 6 to 17 November and includes Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. — Mentioned by the Vatican. source
- confirmed It is the first papal visit to Uruguay since 1988. — AP reports that Pope John Paul II visited Uruguay in 1988. source
Editor's note
The arrival, route and dates were confirmed by AP and the Vatican. The possible influence on church attendance or religious involvement remains uncertain and has been attributed as an expectation.Sources
The story so far
- Friday, 6 November 2026, 06:12 Pope Leo begins Latin America tour after operation
- Friday, 6 November 2026, 22:12 Pope Leo XIV arrives in Uruguay for Latin American trip (this article)
- Sunday, 8 November 2026, 05:47 Argentina arrests person after threat against Pope Leo
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „paus leo xiv”
- AD — „paus leo xiv”
- de Volkskrant — „paus leo xiv”