Pope Francis with Nosipho Jezile, chair of the Committee on World Food Security (Vatican Media Divisione Foto)
Pope Francis sustained a bruise on his right forearm after a fall at Santa Marta on Thursday.
The Holy See said the fall did not cause fractures but noted that “his arm has been immobilized as a precaution”.
The statement said the pope continued with his scheduled audiences, including a meeting with Nosipho Jezile, chair of the World Food Security (CFS) committee.
An accompanying photograph showed the pope’s right arm in a sling as he shook Jezile’s hand.
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Francis has suffered some health problems in recent years and this is the second fall he has had in weeks.
In early December, the 88-year-old had a large bruise on his chin caused by falling and hitting his bedside table during the night.
The pope has also consistently used a wheelchair due to mobility problems caused by pain in his knee.
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Last year, he pulled out of a Good Friday service at the last minute, with the Vatican saying this was done “to preserve his health” ahead of major Easter engagements.
Francis also missed the procession in 2023 — for the first time since becoming pope in 2013. At the time, it had only been about a week since he had been released from hospital after undergoing treatment for bronchitis.
In 2022, the pope promised to resign if health issues impeded him from performing optimally but in a recently published autobiography, Francis ruled the possibility out.
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