If you were watching Pope Francis's numerous public addresses during his visit to the United States, then you heard him repeatedly make one request.
"I ask you, please, to pray for me," the pontiff said, in one way or another, throughout his trip.
Few audiences were spared the request. Francis asked bishops, families, children and hundreds of thousands of faithful to send prayers his way. And he, in turn, said he would pray for them.
Retiring House Speaker John Boehner revealed on Friday that Francis asked the politician to pray for him during a brief meeting between the two the day before. Boehner teared up recalling the encounter: “The pope puts his arm around me and kind of pulls me to him and says, ‘Please pray for me.’ Who am I to pray for the pope? But I did.”
Boehner's reaction is understandable. It seems remarkable that the pope would ask others to pray for him, but it's not uncommon practice among Catholic leaders, said Jesuit Father James Martin.
"It's very common, the most natural thing in the world; and priests, brothers, sisters and bishops do it every day. Including me. We all need prayers and so does the Pope," Martin said in an email.
The pontiff began his papacy by asking for others' prayers when he stepped onto the balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square. After delivering his first blessing as pope, Francis said:
"Thank you for your welcome. Pray for me and I will be with you again soon... We will see one another soon."
The pope has made the same request even to those who might not pray or believe in God. Speaking with reporters in June, the pontiff joked in Spanish: "Pray for me, and if some of you can't pray because you are not believers, send me good vibrations."
In a greeting to crowds gathered outside the U.S. Capitol Thursday, he said: "If there are among you any who do not believe or who cannot pray, I ask you please to send good wishes my way."
On a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Rome in 2013, Francis explained to reporters the reason behind his frequent requests for prayers:
“I started asking it more often when I became bishop. I feel I have many weaknesses and problems," he told La Stampa. "I am a sinner too. This request is something that comes from within. I also ask Mary to pray for me. It’s a habit that comes from the heart. It’s something I feel I have to ask.”
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"Miremos a Jesús que nos lava los pies. Él es el camino…" #PapaFrancisco #PopeInPhilly pic.twitter.com/nmromDrGsY
— Antonio Spadaro SJ (@antoniospadaro) September 27, 2015
Did you see this? Emotional embrace between #PopeInPhilly and prisoner https://t.co/niTiRpwxkX
— Ryan M. Thomas ن (@RyanM_Thomas) September 27, 2015
Security out in full force in Philly. They've called in Border Patrol, for example. #PopeInPhilly pic.twitter.com/zhccQpREMJ
— Jaweed Kaleem (@jaweedkaleem) September 26, 2015
Crowds are out on the Ben Franklin parkway for the pope's parade. Getting a preview of his view. #PopeInPhilly pic.twitter.com/5wZ7G11G6b
— Jaweed Kaleem (@jaweedkaleem) September 26, 2015
pop(e) art pic.twitter.com/o1FsEGZF5x
— Jaweed Kaleem (@jaweedkaleem) September 26, 2015
1/2: Cardinal Dolan says Pope Francis asked to circle the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island as he departed NYC in helicopter. #PopeInUS
— Melanie Grayce West (@MelanieGWest) September 26, 2015
2/2: Cardinal Dolan said Pope Francis was "very moved" at the sight of Statue of Liberty at daybreak. #PopeInNYC
— Melanie Grayce West (@MelanieGWest) September 26, 2015
He's here. #PopeinNYC #popeinmsg pic.twitter.com/3xW3OBH796
— Friends of Nativity (@NativityNYC) September 25, 2015
Smooth Henry Connick, Jr sings one of my praise jams ☺ "How Great Thou Art" #PopeinNYC #MSGMass pic.twitter.com/ANX4KwgTPJ
— Nicola_A_Menzie (@namenzie) September 25, 2015
#PopeFrancis' message to Catholic school students and immigrants in East Harlem. pic.twitter.com/s2oUeUvn5T
— HuffPost Religion (@HuffPostRelig) September 25, 2015
Pretty exciting day! Lots of crowds to see #PopeFrancis #PopeinNYC @Pontifex pic.twitter.com/oIrv3mDAKY
— Jeff Herzfeld (@jeffherzfeld) September 25, 2015
Ascension students and all of the Manhattan schools meet the Holy Father. We love you Holy Father! pic.twitter.com/Sq0nGk89ZS
— Ascension School (@Ascension_NYC) September 25, 2015
This picture of @Pontifex makes me think of the title of his encyclical: The JOY of the Gospel. #PopeinNYC pic.twitter.com/2JmEZuq5Vx
— Fr Matthew Schneider (@FrMatthewLC) September 25, 2015
@SocialinPhilly Annie cat in Fishtown is ready for #PopeInUSA pic.twitter.com/sAsEIPDk8d
— Patrice Bendig (@Patrice_Bendig) September 25, 2015
This shouldn't take too long. #PopeinNYC pic.twitter.com/oIJeQuXKZv
— Grant Gallicho (@gallicho) September 25, 2015
Serious crowds outside Madison Sq Garden, where pope celebrates Mass tonight, & serious security inside Penn Station pic.twitter.com/vKhw8srj1H
— Jaweed Kaleem (@jaweedkaleem) September 25, 2015
Two planes create a cross directly over the United Nations after @Pontifex's speech concludes. #PopeInNYC pic.twitter.com/YqwjabIypC
— Catherine Szeltner (@CatSzeltner) September 25, 2015
Thousands await Pope Francis to celebrate Mass and the canonization of Junipero Serra pic.twitter.com/yTYwdogkw9
— Jaweed Kaleem (@jaweedkaleem) September 23, 2015