Pope Leo XIV has instructed reporters travelling with him to Latin America he is “in pretty good health”, in his first feedback on his situation since having surgical procedure for lung cancer.
The Pope has arrived in Uruguay, the first stop of a 12-day tour which he is enterprise only three weeks after his operation.
The pontiff, 71, also said he was “very happy” to be ready to make the journey which was thrown into doubt last month when medical doctors found a tumour during a routine scan.
The tour will cowl Argentina and a much anticipated return to Peru, which the Vatican described as a “homecoming” as the Pope was based mostly there for many years as a missionary, then a bishop.
“I must confess that, from the very first day, I never had any doubts; I was convinced that this journey had to go forward,” the Pope instructed journalists on his aircraft to Uruguay.
“Thanks to the marvellous medical staff… I believe I am in quite good health,” Pope Leo confirmed.
Last month’s operation to take away a tumour was profitable and his medical doctors say the cancer has not unfold.
On Friday, he arrived in Monetevideo to a seafront lined with crowds shouting his identify as his Popemobile handed.
In his first speech of the journey, the Pope said common healthcare should be “accessible to everyone”.
He instructed the crowd in Plaza Independencia the care he obtained made him think of the “many men and women who lack the means to obtain a timely diagnosis” or obtain remedy.
He capped his day with a prayer at the Montevideo Cathedral.
Pope Leo will cowl more than 20,000 miles on his sixth worldwide tour.
On Sunday he will journey to Argentina, the homeland of his predecessor Pope Francis who did not return during his own papacy.
The Pope said his go to was about being close to the people who were trying to the Church for a message of “hope”.
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