Los Angeles archbishop urges prayers for Pope Leo XIV after lung surgery
Archbishop José H. Gómez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles urged Catholics on October 14, 2026 to pray for Pope Leo XIV after the Vatican announced the pontiff had undergone successful surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung because of pulmonary adenocarcinoma.
The operation, performed at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital with a video‑assisted technique, lasted about ninety minutes, while the Pope spent roughly three hours in the operating room. Vatican officials said the procedure was successful, there were no complications, and the Pope regained consciousness normally before returning to his hospital room.
In a statement, Archbishop Gómez said, "Friends, we continue to pray for the Holy Father’s full and swift recovery. I invite you to join me in offering a spiritual bouquet for Pope Leo XIV as he recovers." He encouraged the faithful to submit prayers and commitments at lacatholics.org/praying-for-pope-leo/, where the archdiocese is collecting a collective prayer offering.
"May Our Lady of Guadalupe hold Pope Leo close in the mantle of her love," Gómez added, urging Catholics to pray the Rosary, spend time in Eucharistic Adoration, pray the Stations of the Cross, offer a Divine Mercy Chaplet, or perform an act of service.
The archdiocese’s webpage also posted a prayer invoking the Virgin Mary to intercede for the Pope’s health and to grant him the spiritual grace needed to endure his illness. The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo, the first American pontiff, is under observation but did not disclose the cancer stage or whether it has spread.
The surgery follows a pre‑operative suspicion of a small lung nodule, later identified as adenocarcinoma— a form of non‑small cell lung cancer that tends to grow slowly. Pope Leo, 71, has never been a smoker, according to the reports.
Other U.S. bishops, including the Archbishop of New York, have also expressed gratitude for the successful operation and asked the global Church to keep the Holy Father in prayer. The Vatican has cancelled the Pope’s scheduled audiences through October 20 and has not confirmed whether his planned South America trip in November will proceed.
As the Archdiocese of Los Angeles rallies its faithful, the next update is expected from Vatican officials later in the week, detailing the Pope’s recovery progress and any further medical recommendations.
