Battling cancer, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez asked Christ to give him a longer life and pleaded “don’t take me yet” in an emotional speech after a Mass giving thanks for his health.

“Give me your crown of thorns, Christ, give it to me, for I am bleeding, give me your cross, 100 crosses, but give me life, because I still have things to do for this people and this country, don’t take me yet, give me your cross, give me your thorns, give me your spear for I am willing to bear them all, but alive, Christ my Lord,” Chavez said.