During a customary prayer in the heart of Rome on Thursday, Pope Francis sobbed as he mentioned the suffering of Ukrainians. The pope had to stop speaking for around thirty seconds after mentioning the Ukrainians because his voice started to shake. His voice was beginning to break as he continued the prayer. The prayer was a feature of the pope's yearly celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a national festival and 168-year-old custom that ushers in the holiday season in the nation. The gathering, which was held at the base of the Madonna statue close to the city's famous Spanish Steps, drew large groups of people anxious to meet the wheelchair-bound Pontiff. The pontiff took his time to welcome everyone there.
