Pope Francis, referred to as León XIV, began a tour of South America on Friday. He will travel to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. During the visits he plans to stress a message of social justice. The tone of that message is at odds with the narrative promoted by the United States president in the region. Observers are watching the pontiff’s health because he recently underwent surgery. Organizers said his condition will be closely monitored throughout the trip. Meteorologists also warned that the lingering effects of the El Niño phenomenon could influence conditions during the itinerary.