Pope Francis injures his right arm after another fall

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Pope Francis injured his right arm in a fall, the Vatican said, weeks after bruising his chin in a similar incident.

Although the pope did not break any bones, he now wears a sling as a precaution, according to a Vatican spokesperson.

“Pope Francis suffered a contusion to his right forearm, without fracture. The arm was immobilized as a precautionary measure,” the Vatican said.

On December 7, the head of the Catholic Church reportedly hit his chin on his nightstand, leaving him with a severe and visible bruise.

Aged 88, he has already suffered from bronchitis and often has to use a wheelchair because of his weak knees. He gets around his apartment in Santa Marta using a walker or a cane.

The Vatican said Thursday's fall occurred at his home. Later, Francis attended hearings with his right arm in a sling.

Speculation about the pope's health has become a constant in Vatican circles.

However, Francis said he was not considering resigning, although his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, had “opened the door” to the possibility.

In his autobiography titled “Hope,” published earlier this week, Francis revealed that he had not considered resigning, even after major bowel surgery.

Benedict XVI resigned from the papacy in 2013, breaking with 600 years of tradition.

The former pope's aides have since attributed his decision to a nighttime fall during a trip to Mexico in 2012. They say the fall led him to believe he could no longer keep up with the hectic pace of travel. of the papacy.