Prominent political and religious leaders from around the world expressed well wishes and prayers for Pope Leo XIV after he announced he would undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule.

The pope made the surprise announcement while addressing pilgrims Oct. 11 during his Sunday Angelus address. After doctors detected "a small, localized nodule" in his lung, Pope Leo said he would follow their advice and "undergo surgery to remove it." "The operation is already scheduled to take place in the coming days," he said. "I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers."

Not long after his announcement, Italian President Sergio Mattarella published a letter to Pope Leo saying that the news of his surgery "was received with deep empathy and emotion by all the Italian people." "In view of your hospitalization in the coming days, may the affectionate thoughts of all Italians reach you, which I convey while adding my own personal sentiments," Mattarella wrote. "The Italian people stand close to you." The Italian head of state said the pope could count on the prayers of not only the Catholic faithful, but also "on the caring thoughts of countless people, in Italy as well as across the world, whether believers or nonbelievers."

Several world leaders also took to X to send well wishes to the pope, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who wished Pope Leo "a successful surgery and a swift, full recovery." "Our thoughts and prayers are with him, and we hope he will soon be back in good health and strength," Zelenskyy wrote. "Ukraine is deeply grateful to His Holiness for his prayers and his strong, consistent calls for a dignified and durable peace."

In a brief message posted to X, Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote: "From the holy city of Jerusalem, I wish Pope Leo XIV a full and speedy recovery."

Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela also extended "prayers and best wishes" to the pope for "a successful procedure and a complete recovery."

Pope Leo also received prayers from Anglican Archbishop Sarah Mullally of Canterbury, who said she was "holding Pope Leo XIV in my prayers over these coming days, asking for God’s protection, closeness and care." "With Christians across the country and around the world, I pray for the pope’s swift recovery," the head of the Church of England wrote on X.

Viktor Eichner, the World Jewish Congress' representative to the Holy See, also posted on X, writing: "On behalf of the World Jewish Congress, I wish Pope Leo XIV a successful surgery and a speedy recovery. May he return to full strength soon."

Argentine President Javier Milei extended his "affection and best wishes" ahead of the pope's surgery. Pope Leo will visit Argentina Nov. 8-11. "All of Argentina accompanies His Holiness with affection and prayer, wishing him a prompt and full recovery," Milei wrote on X. "From our country, we join in prayer for his health, in the hope that he may soon continue guiding the Church with his characteristic wisdom and strength."

The surgery announcement came as Pope Leo prepares to embark on his longest international trip to date: a 12-day apostolic visit to Latin America, including stops in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.

At the Angelus, the pope greeted a group of Peruvian pilgrims and thanked them for praying for his upcoming visit, indicating the trip was still moving forward.

At a press conference in Uruguay, the first stop in the pope’s Nov. 6-17 apostolic trip, Cardinal Daniel Sturla of Montevideo told journalists Oct. 11 that although the announcement “was a surprise,” the pope’s greetings to the Peruvian pilgrims showed that “the plans remain the same.”

“Obviously, we are all praying for the pope’s health and trust that everything will go well, that he will recover and be able to be here on the scheduled date,” Cardinal Sturla said.

When asked if any precautions will be taken given that the pope is expected to arrive in less than a month, the Uruguayan cardinal said he believed so and that the pope “always travels accompanied by his personal physician and other healthcare staff.”

“I understand that some care will need to be taken,” Cardinal Sturla said. “We will be instructed in the coming days. We will be very attentive to that, but confident that everything will go well and that we are moving forward.”