The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar (CBCM) has sent a heartfelt letter to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, assuring him of the Church’s prayers and solidarity ahead of his upcoming surgery to remove a localized nodule in his lung on October 12, 2026.

The Pope announced the procedure during his Angelus Message on October 11, 2026, at the Vatican.

The letter was signed by Cardinal Charles Bo, President of the CBCM, and Archbishop Basilio Athai, Vice President of the CBCM, on behalf of all bishops, clergy, consecrated religious, and the faithful of Myanmar.

‘We Place You in the Healing Hands of Jesus’

In their message, the Myanmar bishops expressed deep emotion at the news of the Pope’s surgery and reminded him of their spiritual closeness.

“Though separated by great distance, our hearts are very close to you as yours is to ours and Myanmar in prayers,” the letter reads.

The bishops spoke of the Pope’s spiritual fatherhood and the gentle, steadfast leadership with which he shepherds the Church. “With childlike trust and love deeply grounded in our faith, we place Your Holiness into the healing hands of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Divine Physician, and into the loving mantle of our Blessed Mother,” they wrote.

Uniting Sufferings and Prayers with the Pope

The CBCM assured the Holy Father of their unceasing prayers and profound solidarity. They asked the Holy Spirit to guide the hands of the surgeons, for the operation to be completely successful, and for the Pope to experience a swift and full recovery so he can resume his apostolic ministry.

“We unite our small sufferings and our fervent daily rosaries here in Myanmar with your cross,” the bishops wrote. “We offer the daily Holy Mass for your health and healing.”

They implored God to shower the Holy Father with abundant graces, strength, and enduring health.

Asking for the Pope’s Blessing

The letter also asked the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, to intercede for the Pope’s complete healing.

“We pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, to intercede for your complete healing,” the bishops wrote. “May we also humbly ask your apostolic blessing upon us.”

The message concluded with an assurance of love and prayers from the entire Catholic Church in Myanmar.

A Church United in Prayer

The letter reflects the deep affection and spiritual bond that Catholics in Myanmar hold for Pope Leo XIV. Even as the Church in Myanmar faces its own challenges and hardships, the faithful have chosen to stand in solidarity with the Holy Father, offering their prayers and sacrifices for his well-being.

For the Catholic community in Myanmar, the gesture is a powerful reminder that the Church is one family—united across continents and cultures in faith, hope, and love.

As Pope Leo XIV prepares for surgery, the prayers of Myanmar’s Catholics rise with millions of others around the world, asking God to grant him healing and strength. The bishops’ letter is a simple but profound message: “Our hearts are very close to you.”

The Catholic Church in Myanmar remains united with the Holy Father in prayer, trusting that God will guide the hands of the surgeons and bring about a full and swift recovery.

By RVA Myanmar Service