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Latter-day Saint leaders pray for Pope Leo’s ‘swift recovery’

Message of hope and healing comes day after the Catholic pontiff’s cancer surgery.

(AP; Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Pope Leo XIV, leader of the Roman Catholic Church, and Dallin H. Oaks, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

(AP; Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Pope Leo XIV, leader of the Roman Catholic Church, and Dallin H. Oaks, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

By https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/sltrib/d23c9c3d-6a35-4583-8f7c-a59ca4e57a79.png The Salt Lake Tribune
 | Oct. 14, 2026, 4:06 p.m.
| Updated: 4:07 p.m.

The top leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have expressed their hopes for Pope Leo XIV’s “swift recovery” from his lung cancer surgery this week.

“We express our heartfelt concern for Pope Leo XIV as he confronts health challenges and extend our sincere wishes for his comfort, strength, and a swift recovery,” the faith’s governing First Presidency, led by church President Dallin H. Oaks, said Wednesday in a statement. “We join with people of faith around the world in praying that heaven will bless and sustain him during this time. May he feel the peace and healing power of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”

In 2019, the previous Catholic pontiff, Pope Francis, welcomed the prior Latter-day Saint president, Russell M. Nelson, at the Vatican in the first and, so far, only ever meeting between the top leaders of the two global religions.

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