Michael Schumacher News & Update: Pope Francis Prays for Racing Champion's Recovery; What We Know So Far

• comments
• 
• 

F1 racing champion Michael Schumacher was prayed for by Pope Francis following a safety campaign for children called "Save Kids' Lives."

The campaign was led by Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) president Jean Todt who met with Pope Francis for the safety campaign.

"I think it made a big impression on him," Todt was quoted saying by Yahoo. "We informed him that 500 children die on roads every day and that another 20,000 are injured every day."

Todt also explained to the Pope about Michael Schumacher's condition, an F1 racing legend who is still under coma after a tragic accident in 2013. Pope Francis "happily accepted" the request from Todt and offered his prayers for Schumacher.

There is no new word about Schumacher's condition. According to MNR Daily, the racing champion had turned 47 on Jan. 3 and his colleagues and friends offered him support and tributes for his birthday.

Fellow racing personalities gave their greetings and regards for Schumacher on Twitter including Sebastian Vittel and Felipe Massa.

Mercedes team chief Ross Brawn offered words of admiration for the racer.

"No one should underestimate how much Michael did for the success that the Mercedes team now enjoys. He won races that we should not really have won, and in my opinion, he did that more often than anybody else has," he said.

The outlet adds that Brawn is in contact with Schumacher's wife Corinna and that they communicate with one another regarding the bedridden racer.

Schumacher was on holiday in the French Alps last Dec. 29, 2013, when the terrible ski accident occurred. He had incurred a severe head injury and then airlifted to the Grenoble Hospital where has was operated on. He remained in a medically-induced coma in 2014 before he was transferred to his Switzerland home for continued rehabilitation, Mirror reports.

A statement on Schumacher's transfer read:

"Henceforth, Michael's rehabilitation will take place at his home. Considering the severe head injuries he suffered, progress has been made in the past weeks and months. There is still, however, a long and difficult road ahead."

Word on Schumacher's condition is difficult to obtain as the family is very protective of him. The outlet adds that A German tabloid was sued for making reports that the racer is well enough to move and speak.

Long time manager Sabine Kehm announced that there is only a bit of improvement on his condition due to the severity of his injuries.

"But of course, it will take a very long time for everybody involved to fight, and we are happy to take this fight," Kehm said as reported by Express.