US President Donald Trump has wished Pope Leo XIV a speedy recovery after the pontiff underwent surgery in Rome to remove a cancerous tumour from his lung.
Gatekeepers News reports that “I want to see Pope Leo get well,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday after addressing a campaign rally in Arizona.
“It’s big stuff. Anytime you have cancer, but the prognosis seems to be good,” he said.
“I just want to wish him well. Get better fast,” the president added.
Doctors treating the 71-year-old pontiff said on Wednesday that he was out of bed, walking and eating following the surgery. He is awaiting biopsy results to determine whether the cancer has spread.
Messages of support and prayers for the recovery of the leader of the Catholic Church, which has about 1.4 billion faithful worldwide, have poured in from different parts of the world.
Tributes have come from Chiclayo in northern Peru, where Pope Leo served as bishop for eight years, as well as his hometown of Chicago in the United States and other locations.
Other world leaders have also expressed their best wishes, including Britain’s King Charles III, who is receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.
Last year, Charles became the first British monarch to pray publicly with a pontiff since the Church of England broke away from the Vatican about 500 years ago.
Trump Speaks on Relationship With Pope’s Brother
Pope Leo, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, said earlier this year that he has “great love” for the United States.
However, his calls for tolerance and the protection of migrants have frequently put the Vatican at odds with the Trump administration over its immigration crackdown and the use of detention centres.
Speaking on Wednesday, Trump also recalled his relationship with the pope’s brother, Louis Prevost, whom he described as a friend and supporter.
“His brother’s a friend of mine who’s a great, he’s a fantastic guy, and his wife. You know, they’re big Trump supporters,” Trump said.
He added: “His brother loves him a lot, loves the Pope a lot, and that’s good. That’s good enough for me.”
