Christian leader and head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, 88, suffered an arm injury after a fall, the Vatican announced, weeks after another incident hit him on the chin.
Details of the injuries have not been released, but falls over the past few weeks have raised concerns about the 88-year-old priest’s health, although Francis remains active in his commitment. Importantly, Francis did not break his arm after this recent fall, but a sling was applied as a health precaution, according to a statement from a Vatican spokesman.
88-year-old Francis faces ongoing health challenges, including chronic knee problems and bronchitis, resulting in frequent wheelchair use due to deteriorating health. Earlier, on 7 December 2024, Francis sustained a nasty gash on the chin in an apparent fall on a nightstand.
Francis injured his right arm after a fall at the Casa Santa Marta residence on Thursday and later appeared with his right arm in a sling, the Vatican confirmed.
The incident highlights the Pope’s subsequent struggle to navigate the situation. Although he often uses a wheelchair to get around, he relies on a walking frame or cane to get around the apartment due to illness. Francis appeared in attendance later in the day despite the injury.
What did Francis say about his own weakness?
Francis dismissed speculation about his health in his new memoir, ‘Hope,’ and confirmed that he has no intention of resigning despite a recent fall injury and ongoing health mobility challenges.
“I am well,” the pope said in his new memoir, Hope: The Autobiography, released on January 14, according to Reuters. He also said, “The reality is, quite simply, that I am old.” And he also noted that church leadership depends on “the head and the heart, not the feet.”
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