Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco sent a message of support and prayers to Pope Leo XIV on Monday 12th October, ahead of the pontiff’s surgery in Rome for early-stage lung cancer.
The Vatican confirmed in a medical bulletin on Wednesday morning that the 71-year-old pontiff underwent a 90-minute operation on Tuesday 13th October at Gemelli Hospital to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. Doctors diagnosed the growth as pulmonary adenocarcinoma, saying that the nodule was caught at a very early stage during routine checks and that the procedure went without complications.
The operation followed Pope Leo XIV’s surprise announcement during his weekly Angelus address on Sunday 11th October, in which he informed the faithful of the necessary medical intervention.
Direct words of devotion from Monaco
In their official correspondence dispatched to the Vatican on Monday, Prince Albert II expressed the deep emotion and solidarity felt across the Principality upon learning of the Holy Father’s upcoming operation.
“Deeply moved by the news Your Holiness shared following the Angelus on 11th October, yet reassured by Your decision to undergo the necessary surgery without delay, Princess Charlene and I, together with our family and the entire Principality, wish to express our wholehearted support and assure You of our fervent prayers,” the Sovereign Prince wrote.
Reaffirming Monaco’s close constitutional and spiritual ties with the Roman Catholic Church, Prince Albert II highlighted the global importance of the Pope’s leadership.
“As we reaffirm our closeness to You in this difficult time, we pray that the operation will be successful and that Your recovery will be swift and complete, enabling You to resume Your Ministry with renewed strength, at a time when the world needs Your guidance more than ever,” the Prince added, closing with “the assurance of our most faithful and respectful devotion.”
Deepening spiritual ties
The personal tone of the Princely Family’s message follows recent high-level meetings between the House of Grimaldi and the Pontiff.
On Monday 28th September, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene met Pope Leo XIV in Metz during his pastoral visit to France. Joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron at the Robert Schuman Convention Centre, the audience marked a warm reunion six months after the Pope’s landmark apostolic visit to Monaco on 28th March.
According to Vatican reports on Wednesday morning, the Pope spent a “peaceful night” recovering in hospital, where he is expected to remain for about a week. His schedule has been cleared until Tuesday 20th October as he recuperates ahead of a planned pastoral tour of Latin America in November.
See also:
From the Palace Balcony to the Stade Louis II: Pope Leo XIV makes history in Monaco
Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, listen to our podcasts on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene with Pope Leo XIV in Metz during his pastoral visit to France. Photo credit: Palais Princier de Monaco