Pope Francis sent personal greetings to EWTN Foundress Mother Mary Angelica this morning from aboard the papal plane to Cuba from his historic meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill.

“To Mother Angelica with my blessing and I ask you to pray for me; I need it,” the Pope said. “God bless you Mother Angelica.”

The pope then asked everyone to pray for him, adding, “I need it.”

EWTN Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael P. Warsaw was pleased with the shout-out.

“On behalf of Mother Angelica, I thank the Holy Father for his greeting and want him to know that Mother, her Nuns and the EWTN family will be praying for him and for the success of this historic journey.”