Pope Francis Injures Arm in Fall, Continues Duties

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis sustained a bruised right forearm after a fall Thursday morning at his residence, the Vatican confirmed. The 88-year-old pontiff did not suffer any fractures, and his arm was immobilized as a precaution.

The Holy See press office stated that the fall occurred at Casa Santa Marta, the pope’s residence, but did not provide further details about the incident. Despite the injury, Francis continued with his scheduled meetings, including discussions with Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and priests from an Argentine college in Rome.

Official images released by the Vatican showed the pope wearing a cloth sling on his right arm during his engagements. On Wednesday, Francis appeared in good spirits during his general audience, even tossing a tennis ball to a dog during a circus performance.

This marks the second fall for the pope in recent weeks. In early December, he appeared with a visible bruise on his chin after hitting his bedside table during a nighttime fall. Francis has faced ongoing health challenges, including mobility issues due to knee pain, which have required him to use a wheelchair since 2022.

In a recent interview, the pope acknowledged his age and health limitations but dismissed speculation about resigning. “The reality is, quite simply, that I am old,” he said. “It was embarrassing at first to have to use a wheelchair, but old age never arrives by itself, and it must be accepted for what it is.”

Francis emphasized his commitment to his role, stating, “The Church is governed using the head and the heart, not the legs. I do physiotherapy twice a week, I use a walking stick, do as many steps as I can, and I carry on.”

The pope is scheduled to appear on the Italian talk show “Che Tempo Che Fa” this Sunday at 7:30 a.m. CET on Nove, a channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company.