The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield, Illinois says he joins so many of the faithful worldwide in praying for Pope Leo the 14th as he recovers from lung cancer surgery earlier this week.

Bishop Thomas Paprocki says it is always concerning news when you hear a loved one is diagnosed with cancer but, "Reports are already that the Pope is eating normally and that he's meeting with officials. He's still recovering but that he's already going to back to doing some of his work so that's very encouraging. Happy to hear that."

Bishop Paprocki encourages everyone in the Springfield Diocese to say a prayer or pray the rosary for Pope Leo and says he's looking forward to meeting his fellow Chicago native next year in May at the Vatican for the Illinois bishops regular meeting with the pontiff.

St. Louis Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski and Belleville Bishop Godfrey Mullen are also asking their faithful to join in prayer for Pope Leo -- with Archdiocesan officials saying they too are heartened by positive reports out of the Vatican.

Questions swirl about pope's future and what he knew when praying at a French shrine famed for cures