Pope Leo To Proceed With November South America Trip Despite Lung Surgery, Says Cardinal

St Peregine Laziosi, Patron of Cancer Sufferers, pray for the Holy Father! May God protect him on his journey, if his doctors OK the trip.

From AdVaticanum

Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi has said Pope Leo XIV remains determined to proceed with his planned November trip to South America despite undergoing lung surgery this week

Pope Leo XIV is determined to keep his planned November trip to South America despite undergoing lung surgery, according to Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, who met the Pontiff on the eve of his hospital admission.

The Archbishop of Tokyo and president of Caritas Internationalis told Vatican correspondent Iacopo Scaramuzzi of La Repubblica that the Pope was calm and in good spirits during their private audience at the Apostolic Palace on Monday, 12 October, explaining that the procedure was intended to prevent disruption to his international travel plans.

“He is doing very well, as always. He was very calm,” Cardinal Kikuchi told Scaramuzzi. His Eminence further stated: “He [His Holiness] said that, not wanting to cancel his planned trips abroad, he decided to undergo the necessary treatment immediately. It’s a minor procedure, a small operation. It’s nothing serious.”

The cardinal said the Pope had made the decision to undergo treatment promptly because he wanted to preserve his existing schedule, including a planned 12-day journey to Latin America in November involving three countries and numerous stops.

Asked whether the Archbishop of Tokyo believed the trip would go ahead as scheduled, Cardinal Kikuchi replied: “I think so, that’s what he said. He wants to do it on the scheduled dates, he doesn’t want to change the plans. That’s why he’s having this surgery now.”

As president of Caritas Internationalis, Cardinal Kikuchi also had a separate reason to meet the Pontiff. He explained that he is expected to meet the Pope annually to report on the organisation’s activities.