Praying For the Pope's Health

At the conclusion of today’s Angelus, Pope Leo informed his Rome audience — and the world — of a health concern that recently arose during a routine “physical.” It is indeed a concern and it would be good for all of us to pray for him. At the present moment, however, it probably doesn’t represent an imminent health crisis. It’s still important for us to pray for Pope Leo to recover fully and continue to serve as the successor of Saint Peter in the Church (and for the world, which is full of so many who suffer and seek understanding).

Here are the Pope’s own words: “Dear friends, during some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized. The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The operation is already scheduled to take place in the coming days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers.”

I’m praying, and I will do my best to be “spiritually close,” realizing as I do the mysterious but profoundly real, “human” connection it entails. I hope (with some reason) to be one of about eight billion people who are praying.

I was going to post a quotation from Leo’s address to a group of diplomats in Paris recently during the Pope’s remarkable and hopeful pilgrimage to France. I’m going to post it anyway: