Pakistan: Prime Minister, Bishops and Muslim Leaders Pray for Pope Leo XIV’s Recovery
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Catholic bishops, and Muslim leaders have called for prayers for Pope Leo XIV’s recovery, with prayer initiatives reported in churches, mosques, and educational institutions following the Pope’s lung surgery in Rome.
In a message of solidarity, Sharif conveyed prayers and good wishes on behalf of the Pakistani government and people, expressing hope for the Pope’s swift recovery. He praised the Pope’s messages of compassion, peace, and human dignity, saying these values promote interfaith harmony and goodwill in Pakistan and around the world.
Bishop Yousaf Sohan of Multan, in Pakistan’s Punjab province, issued a pastoral letter directing priests, religious, and lay faithful throughout the diocese to offer special prayers and Rosary intentions for the Pope’s healing and recovery during Sunday Masses on October 18.
In Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, Muslim scholar and mosque cleric Mufti Ashiq Hussain led special prayers for the Pope during Friday prayers on October 16, with hundreds of worshippers attending.
Hussain, known for promoting interfaith harmony, acknowledged the Pope’s efforts to advance global peace and urged worshippers to pray for his recovery, emphasizing the shared human and spiritual bonds between religious communities.
Prayer initiatives were also reported in other parts of Pakistan. Churches and mosques held special gatherings, women’s congregations recited the Holy Rosary, and private schools administered by Catholic laypeople organized prayers during morning assemblies. The report did not specify the locations or number of institutions involved.
Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital to remove a localized nodule in his right lung. The Vatican confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung.
Sharif expressed hope that the Pope would soon resume his global service to humanity with renewed strength and health.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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