Pope Francis fell at his residence in the Vatican and bruised his right forearm. According to the Holy See, the 88-year-old's arm is not broken, but has been "immobilized" as a precaution. The incident reportedly occurred in the morning.
Despite the accident, Francis completed his audiences scheduled for the morning as planned. In pictures published by the official news portal "Vatican News", the Pope was wearing an arm sling. He greeted his guests with his left hand.
Another accident in December
At the beginning of December, the head of the Catholic Church had already suffered a clearly visible bruise on his chin in a minor accident at the Vatican guest house Santa Marta. At the time, it was said that the Pope had bumped his head on the bedside table. The hematoma was visible for some time.
The health of the Argentinian-born Pope, who has been Pope since 2013, has been a cause for concern for some time. Due to a severe knee condition, Francis usually uses a wheelchair during public appearances and only stands for short periods of time. In the winter months, he also suffers from colds.