Pope Leo XIV will proceed with his planned 12-day tour of South America after medical examinations showed that his recovery from lung cancer surgery was progressing favorably, the Vatican announced Monday.

The 71-year-old pontiff underwent surgery on Oct. 13 to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, during which doctors diagnosed lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. The Vatican said his latest medical assessments found no reason to prevent him from making the upcoming journey.

“The Holy Father’s recovery after the surgery continues, and the latest medical examinations attest to his good health and favorable clinical condition,” the Vatican said in a statement citing his personal physician, Luigi Carbone.

The statement added that his current clinical condition, along with the results of medical imaging and laboratory tests, showed “there are no contraindications” to the trip.

The tour will take the pope to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from Nov. 6 through Nov. 17. The demanding itinerary is expected to cover approximately 19,300 miles across 10 cities and include 36 speeches. The Vatican confirmed that the journey would proceed according to its previously announced schedule, without changes.

Leo has been gradually resuming his public duties as he recovers. On Sunday, he addressed the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, continuing his engagement with pilgrims and visitors at the Vatican.

However, the pope has also reduced some activities on medical advice. He canceled a planned day visit to Assisi in central Italy scheduled for Tuesday, reflecting the need to manage his workload during recovery.

The confirmation of the South America trip indicates that the Vatican’s medical team considers the pope sufficiently recovered for an extensive international visit. The journey will nevertheless place significant demands on the pontiff as he continues recuperating from surgery.