WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush, after receiving a call from White House spokesman Tony Snow Tuesday, said Snow is "upbeat" following his cancer diagnosis, and said he will pray for both him and his family.

"His attitude is one that he is not going to let this whip him and he's upbeat. My attitude is we need to pray for him and for his family," Bush told reporters in the White House rose garden. "Obviously, a lot of folks here in the White House are -- you know, worry a lot about their friend, as do Laura and I. (Watch video: Bush on Snow)

"My message to Tony is stay strong," he added. "A lot of people love you and care for you and we'll pray for you. And we're hoping for all the best. I'm looking forward to the day that he comes back to the White House and briefs the press corps on the decisions that I'm making and why I'm making them. In the meantime, I hope our fellow citizens offer a prayer to him and his family."

-- CNN's Paul Cella