Chicagoans Pray for Pope Leo XIV’s Recovery Following Lung Cancer Diagnosis

On Wednesday, a gathering of a hundred worshippers at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago bowed their heads in prayer for Pope Leo XIV’s recovery. The Chicago native was diagnosed with lung cancer just hours before. Rev. Louis Cameli led the Mass, focusing on the health and healing of the Holy Father. He prayed, ‘We humbly entreat you, Lord… as you have entrusted Leo with the office of shepherd, grant him salvation and protection.’

Throughout the Chicago area, Catholics have been hoping for the pontiff’s quick recovery. Doctors diagnosed him with adenocarcinoma after removing part of his right lung. Carmen Daley, 72, attended the Mass and expressed the community’s need for the pope now more than ever. ‘We are praying for his health, that God will take care of him and for a speedy recovery,’ she said. Rev. Cameli remarked on Pope Leo’s global influence, noting he is a significant voice for the world.

Encouraging news emerged as doctors reported Pope Leo was walking, eating normally, and doing respiratory exercises. A chest X-ray and blood tests showed he was recovering well. Rev. John Lydon, a close friend of the pope, felt hopeful after this news. They had been missionaries together in Peru during the 1990s. Lydon, in Rome for a sustainability conference the pope was to attend, was surprised by the cancer diagnosis. The pontiff had mentioned the surgery casually on Sunday.

Lydon and others at the conference learned of the diagnosis late Tuesday. ‘Because he’s a friend, I’m very concerned and sad,’ Lydon said. He remarked on the personal impact of such news and balanced it with optimism due to the doctors’ reports.

People pray during the noon Mass with special prayers for Pope Leo XIV at Holy Name Cathedral on Oct. 14, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Though lung cancer is the deadliest cancer globally, early detection offers hope. Lydon noted that the pope is otherwise healthy and active, being an avid tennis player. Cardinal Blase Cupich requested prayers for Leo’s quick recovery and reflected on the pope’s work. ‘While this is not the news we hoped for, we are heartened by the skill and optimism of his physicians and the countless prayers offered worldwide for his complete recovery,’ said the archbishop.

The selection of Pope Leo XIV in May 2025 marked the first American pontiff, leading to celebrations in Chicago. Many local figures, including Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, have met with him at the Vatican. A group of students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy, who had a mock papal conclave, prayed for him and sent a care package with get-well cards and a White Sox blanket.

Pope Leo’s schedule is clear until October 20 as he recuperates. Chicago-area clergy set to meet him on October 27 have heard no changes in plans. The Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership appreciates his leadership in the Catholic Church, noting his advocacy for dignity and equality.

A group of Vatican leaders in Chicago for a conference gathered at Pope Leo’s childhood home in Dolton to pray during his surgery. Joe Boland from the Catholic Extension Society related the diagnosis’s impact, comparing it to hearing the news about a family member. He recalled Pope Leo’s warm welcome during a visit to the Vatican in May.

Pope Leo’s roots in Chicago remain significant to him, and Boland emphasized the connection Chicagoans feel. ‘We understand the unique nuances of the man and where he grew up,’ Boland said, highlighting the influence of Pope Leo’s background on his global ministry.