Pope cries mentioning Ukraine at public prayer

STORY: The crowd, including Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, who was next to the pope, applauded when they realized he was unable to talk and saw him crying.

Francis broke down during a traditional prayer to the Madonna at the base of a statue on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a national holiday in Italy.

"Immaculate virgin, today I would have wanted bring you the thanks of the Ukrainian people," he said before he broke down and had to stop.

When he was able to, he continued: "Instead, once more I have to bring you the pleas of children, of the elderly, of fathers and mothers, of the young people of that martyred land, which is suffering so much".