Canada’s Catholics offer Pope Leo prayers, support after lung cancer diagnosis

Canada’s Catholic community is offering prayers and messages of support to uplift Pop Leo XIV following the announcement of his lung cancer diagnosis after undergoing surgery at Gemelli Hospital Oct. 13 to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.

In his capacity as president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Bishop Elect Trois-Rivières Pierre Goudreault penned a letter to the Bishop of Rome.

“With filial affection, we ask the Lord to grant you a full recovery and to sustain you with his peace throughout your convalescence,” wrote Goudreault. “Your message for this year’s World Day of the Sick called us to draw near to those who suffer with compassion and attentive care. In that same spirit, the Church in Canada accompanies you in prayer, united with you in the communion of faith and in gratitude for your ministry as Successor of Peter.”

Advertisement

Goudreault further called for the pontiff to be commended to the “maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Health of the Sick, and to the protection of Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church and of Canada.”

The CCCB is encouraging Canadian Catholics to offer the prayer Pope Leo XIV himself proclaimed on the 34th World Day of the Sick on Feb. 11.

Sweet Mother, do not part from me. Turn not your eyes away from me. Walk with me at every moment and never leave me alone. You who always protect me as a true Mother, obtain for me the blessing of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Honouring his reverence for Mary, Mother of God, Frank Cardinal Leo, the archbishop of Toronto, also wrote a prayer that he invites the Catholic community to offer up to the Blessed Mother’s intercession.

O Mary, Mother of the Church and Health of the sick, we turn to you with love and devotion as we ask for your powerful intercession for Pope Leo XIV.

Advertisement

You are our mother, our companion and our confidante. You are our refuge and advocate. You are a sign of sure hope and consolation to all of God’s holy people as we make our pilgrim way to the Kingdom.

Look favourably and with mercy upon our Holy Father whom your Son Jesus, our Saviour, has chosen as our universal Shepherd.

Grant that, by your maternal mediation and fervent prayer, Our Lord will bestow peace upon Pope Leo, comfort him in his hour of need And restore him to good health, affording him renewed vigour to continue his apostolic mission, according to God’s holy will.

We thank you, Mother most holy, for caring and for praying with us and for us to Jesus, your Son, our Lord.

The Archdiocese of Quebec declared in a Facebook post that “for millions of people, the Holy Father is a sign of hope, compassion, and unity. Today, let us in turn show him our spiritual closeness and support.”

Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, the archbishop of Quebec since 2011, shared his appreciation with Reuters on Oct. 12 that Leo himself openly divulged the day before that he would be undergoing surgery.

"I really appreciated yesterday ... (that) he himself said, 'This is what's going on,' very transparent, and asked for prayers," said Lacroix. "I like that."

Advertisement

Prime Minister Mark Carney, a Catholic who attended Pope Leo’s inaugural Mass on May 18, 2025, posted a message of support to his X account stating: “On behalf of Canadians, I wish Pope Leo XIV a full and swift recovery following his successful surgery. His Holiness is a source of hope and inspiration for billions around the world. His message of unity and compassion reminds us of the strength we can offer one another in moments of uncertainty.   As he recovers, may he draw strength from the prayers of those whose lives he has touched, just as so many draw strength from him.”

This story will be updated as more reactions pour in…

(Amundson is an associate editor and writer for The Catholic Register.)