South American leaders concerned over Pope health and trip

When Pope Leo XIV was elected after the pained finale of Pope Francis' pontificate, there was hope that a younger, healthier pope would be able to guide

the Catholic Church for some time before age and ailments slowed him.

Leo's lung cancer diagnosis announced Tuesday has thrown a question mark into that scenario and his pontificate.

Roman Catholics across South America responded to news of Pope Leo XIV's lung cancer diagnosis with an outpouring of prayers and support, along with concerns about whether

the first American pope will make his highly anticipated and physically demanding visit to the region next month.

His itinerary included secular Uruguay, predominantly Catholic Argentina and Leo's adopted homeland of Peru. Government officials of these countries

wished the 71-year-old pontiff a swift recovery and urged patience and the faithful to gather to pray.

Peru's leader Keiko Fujimori said, "We are glad to hear that the operation went well and that he is recovering. We have been extremely concerned about the diagnosis but I want the Pope

to know that here in Peru, there are millions who are praying for his speedy recovery."

In Europe Portugal's capital Lisbon hundreds of faithful gathered on Wednesday night for a vigilof prayers for the health of the pope.

Organised by a group of young Catholics, the ceremony was led by the Patriarch of Lisbon D. Rui Valerio at a local church.

"It is important because the pope for us is a reference and he prays for us everyday and for everything that is happening around the world and we need

also pray for him in this difficult time that he is going through."

Pope Leo has had the lower lobe of his right lung removed after doctors diagnosed him with the most common type of lung cancer.

Although lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide it can be highly treatable when detected early, as appears to have been the case with the pope

Dr Ben Zhang, thoracic surgeon at Allina Health said "What happens when we remove a lobe of the lung is the other parts of the lobe

the other lobes actually pick up some of the work that the other lobes do.

What most people experience and what they tell me is that about four to six weeks after surgery, their energy level is basically back to normal.

Their pain is something that they don't have to think about and their breathing more or less for daily activities feels normal."