"Please Pray for Me" Says Pope on 1st Anniversary of Election

The Holy Father sent out this simple tweet this morning, the first anniversary since his election.

Asked by reporters today what Francis is doing to mark the occasion, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi simply said: "He is praying." 

The Pope, who is currently on retreat in Ariccia just outside Rome, "is not doing anything special or different in respect to other days: he is praying," Fr. Lombardi said, adding that the Holy Father will return to the Vatican tomorrow lunchtime by bus after a retreat that began on Sunday.

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis