Pope Francis injures arm in fall at the Vatican

The Vatican has stated that Pope Francis had an accidental fall, injuring his right arm. The incident occurred on Thursday local time, when the Pope fell inside the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican, resulting in bruising to his right forearm, but medical examinations found no fractures.

In a statement, the Vatican noted: “This morning, Pope Francis fell in the Santa Marta residence, suffering a contusion to his right forearm, without fractures. As a precaution, the arm has been immobilized.”

The Pope, who has led the Catholic Church of 1.4 billion believers since 2013, turned 88 last December. He often uses a cane or wheelchair due to knee and back pain. Previously, a separate fall in December left him with a noticeable bruise on his chin, raising fresh concerns about his health. It was reported that the fall occurred when he bumped into a bedside table.

The Pope has suffered from influenza and related ailments multiple times in the past two years. He underwent surgery in 2021 to treat a painful condition called diverticulitis, and in 2023 he had surgery to repair a hernia. Despite this, in his autobiography published on Tuesday, the Pope downplayed concerns about his health and ruled out the possibility of resigning like his predecessor, Benedict XVI.

The Pope stated that he is "fine," but also acknowledged that "the reality is simple, I am old." He also said, "It was embarrassing at the beginning to have to use a wheelchair, but aging never comes alone, you have to accept it as it is." He added: "The Church is governed with the head and the heart, not with the legs." "I do physiotherapy twice a week, I use a cane, I walk as much as I can and then I keep going."