Pope Leo starts South America 'homecoming' tour a month after lung surgery

Pope Leo leaves on Friday 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 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.



The pope, departing Rome early on Friday morning, is due to arrive in Uruguay at 4:30 p.m. He will stay in the country until Sunday, visiting three cities before continuing on for three days in Argentina and six days in Peru.