Pope blesses governor battling cancer

Pope Francis on Thursday blessed Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who is battling cancer.

“It was an incredible honor to meet his holiness Pope Francis today in Washington and receive his blessings on behalf of all cancer patients,” Hogan wrote on his Facebook page.

“My faith, like the faith of countless other patients like me, gives me strength to defeat this disease, and continue to be the best public steward I can be for the people of this great state,” he added, sharing a photo of his meeting with the pope.

{mosads}Hogan met Francis at the Catholic Charities in Washington, D.C., after the spiritual leader’s address before a joint session of Congress earlier Thursday, NBC News reported. Francis took Hogan’s hand, waved the sign of the cross over his head and then provided him and his wife with rosaries.

Hogan, who discovered he has non-Hodgkin Lymphoma last June, praised the pontiff.

“I am inspired by the pope’s words this week: He said that ‘Service is never ideological, for we do not serve ideas, we serve people,’” he wrote in his Facebook post.

“Working to make people’s lives better is something I can understand and will continue to put to in my administration as well as my life,” added Hogan, a first-term governor.

Hogan missed greeting the pontiff at Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday, according to NBC, as he wrapped up a five-day hospital stay for treatment.

The governor has undergone three minor surgeries, three spinal taps and 20 chemotherapy sessions, the report added.

Hogan has repeatedly said he is “feeling very strong” as he undergoes treatment.