Todt asked Pope Francis to pray for Schumacher

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Pope Francis has promised to pray for Michael Schumacher claims the F1 legend's friend, former Ferrari boss and current president Jean Todt, after the Frenchman met this week with the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Todt sat with the Pope to discuss road safety, but "in view of the positive atmosphere of our conversation", the topic turned to Schumacher, he revealed.

"Michael is close to my heart, as everyone knows," Todt told Vatican Radio. "He is part of my family. I asked him (Francis) if he would like to pray for him (Schumacher), and he gladly accepted. Francis knows of Schumacher and had also heard of his accident."

Todt said he phoned Schumacher's wife, Corinna, after the meeting to inform her.