A statement from President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB:

Pope Leo‘s recent announcement – at the end of his regular Sunday morning address to the crowds gathered in St Peter’s Square in Rome – that he would in the coming days be admitted to hospital for an operation to remove a nodule on one of his lungs was both a surprise and a matter of deep concern, not just for Catholics but for all those who see in him a powerful advocate for peace, compassion and stability in an increasingly volatile and fractured world.

His assurance that the doctors are positive about the outcome of the operation is a source of hope for us.

The knowledge that not just Catholics but all people of faith and goodwill will be praying for Pope Leo will be a source of comfort for him.