The Archbishop of York has undergone hospital treatment for a locally advanced cancer of the prostate, his spokesperson has said.
Dr John Sentamu said he was "thankful and grateful" for Bill Cross and his surgical team at St James' Hospital, where he was operated on today for a "locally advanced cancer of the prostate".
In a statement, the Archbishop said he would be "out of action for some time" but was looking forward to resuming his ministry "as soon as possible".
"I am thankful, too, for all of you who regularly pray for me and support me, especially my staff at Bishopthorpe Palace," he said.
"I will be out of action for some time, and will continue to value your prayers."
He added that he was drawing "great comfort" from the words of the Taizé chant, 'Aber du weißt den Weg für mich', adapted from a passage in Letters and Papers from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian executed by the Nazis in 1945.
The chant says: "God, gather and turn my thoughts to you. With you there is light, you do not forget me. With you there is hope and patience. I don't understand your ways, but you know the way for me."
He concluded his statement by saying: "I wish you all joy in the Lord."
