"PRAY FOR ME". POPE FRANCIS FIRST TRIP OUT OF ROME FOR SEVEN MONTHS

Pope Francis made his first trip out of Rome for seven months on Sunday with a packed visit to Venice that took in an art exhibition, a prison and a Mass, with the 87-year pontiff acknowledging that life could be hard.

Pope Francis has made his first trip out of Rome for seven months with a visit to Venice where he asked worshippers to "pray for me".

It was a rare acknowledgement of the strains of the job as he told thousands of the faithful gathered in St Mark's Square: "This work is not easy"
Hobbled by recent bouts of ill-heath, the pope read out three speeches and a homily during his five-hour stay, moving around the lagoon city by wheelchair, golf buggy and motor launch.