US President Donald Trump has expressed support for Pope Leo XIV following the pontiff’s surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his lung, saying he hopes the Catholic leader makes a swift recovery.
Trump, speaking to reporters after a campaign rally in Arizona on Wednesday, said the Pope’s reported prognosis was encouraging despite the seriousness of the diagnosis.
“I want to see Pope Leo get well,” Trump said. “It’s big stuff. Anytime you have cancer, but the prognosis seems to be good.” 
“I just want to wish him well. Get better fast,” he added.
The Pope’s doctors said on Wednesday that the 71-year-old pontiff was recovering after the procedure and had already got out of bed, walked and eaten.
Doctors are awaiting the results of a biopsy to determine the nature of the tumour and whether the cancer has spread.
Messages of support have continued to pour in from around the world for the leader of the Catholic Church, which has more than one billion faithful globally.
Prayers and goodwill have come from places closely associated with Pope Leo, including Chiclayo in northern Peru, where he served as a bishop for eight years, and Chicago, his American hometown.
Britain’s King Charles III was also among world leaders who offered his best wishes to the Pope. Charles himself is undergoing treatment for cancer, although details of his condition have not been publicly disclosed.
Pope Leo’s health has also drawn attention to his relationship with the Trump administration. Although the Pope has spoken of his affection for the United States, his calls for greater tolerance and protection for migrants have at times conflicted with the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies.
Trump, however, struck a personal tone in his comments about the Pope, noting that he had previously spoken with Leo’s brother, Louis Prevost.
“His brother’s a friend of mine. He’s a fantastic guy, and his wife,” Trump said, adding that the couple were supporters of his political movement.
“His brother loves him a lot, loves the Pope a lot, and that’s good. That’s good enough for me,” he added.
Pope Leo XIV, who became the first American to lead the Catholic Church, is expected to remain under medical observation as doctors assess his recovery and await further test results.
