Pope Francis made his first trip out of Rome for seven months on Sunday (April 28) 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.

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 motorlaunch.

Although he appeared well and spoke in a clear voice, he also made a rare acknowledgement of the strains of the job.

/”Please pray for me because this work is not easy,/” he told thousands of faithful gathered in St Mark’s Square.

(Production: Fabiano Franchitti)

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