Pope Francis hurts right arm after another fall

Pope Francis has injured his right arm in a fall, the Vatican has said, just weeks after he bruised his chin in a similar incident.

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

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

On 7 December, the Catholic leader reportedly hit his chin on his nightstand, leaving him with a serious and visible bruise.

The 88-year-old, whose previous health problems have included bouts of bronchitis, often has to use a wheelchair because of bad knees, and moves around his Santa Marta apartment with the help of a walking frame or cane.

The Vatican said that Thursday’s fall occurred at home. Francis later attended audiences with his right arm in a sling.

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

However, Francis has said he has no plans to resign despite that fact that his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, has “opened the door” to the possibility.

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

Benedict resigned from the papacy in 2013 in a break with 600 years of tradition.

The former pope’s aides have since attributed the decision to a nighttime fall during a 2012 trip to Mexico. They said it led him to believe that he could no longer keep up with the papacy’s gruelling travel schedule.