A visit to the petroleum-rich Orinoco Belt revealed a nascent U.S.-backed oil empire in a vassal state where officials once railed against the imperial north.

Just weeks after cancer surgery, Pope Leo XIV, who has arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay, will navigate the region’s tide of secularism, deep polarization — and high altitudes.

Just weeks after his cancer surgery, Leo will navigate the tide of secularism, deep polarization — and high altitudes.

The 71-year-old underwent an operation to remove a pulmonary adenocarcinoma, among the most common types of lung cancer. Officials said it was “successfully completed.”

The 71-year-old underwent an operation to remove a pulmonary adenocarcinoma, among the most common types of lung cancer. Officials said it was “successfully completed.”

Several hundred people gathered at Rome's Gemelli Hospital before the pope's operation, news of which had caught many in Vatican City off guard.

Several hundred people gathered at Rome's Gemelli Hospital before the pope's operation, news of which had caught many in Vatican City off guard.

Pope Leo XIV said that the nodule was “detected at a very early stage and is well localized,” and that the surgery would be in the coming days.

Pope Leo XIV called the death penalty “an attack” on human dignity a day after senior Church officials condemned the Pentagon’s plans to live-stream an execution of Nidal Malik Hasan.