Pope Francis Falls for Second Time in About a Month, Hurts His Arm

Mar. 15, 2025

Pope Francisinjured his arm after falling for the second time in just over a month, according to the Vatican.

The press office also said that Francis’ “arm has been immobilized as a precaution.”

Vatican Newsreported that despite the incident, the pontiff, 88, continued to receive his audiences, including theCommunity of the Argentine Priests’ College of Rome,members of a delegation from AlbaniaandNosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile, president of the committee on World Food Security.

Francis’ latest injury followsa previous minor fallhe experienced on Dec. 6. The Vatican’s press office said then that he sustained the injury after hitting his chin on his bedside table, reportedReuters.

The pontiff was spotted having a purple bruise on his chin during a Dec. 7 ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica for the installation of 21 new cardinals. Reuters noted that he appeared to be in otherwise good health at the event.

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Francis has experienced health issues over the years. In June 2023, he had intestinal surgery for an abdominal hernia, as he was experiencing “recurring, painful and worsening” symptoms.

Pope Francis.FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty

FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty

In a statement to PEOPLE at the time, the Vatican said, “At the end of the General Audience, the Holy Father went to the A. Gemelli University Hospital where in the early afternoon he will undergo a surgical operation of laparotomy and plastic surgery of the abdominal wall with prostheses under general anesthesia.”

On April 1, 2023,Francis was discharged from a Rome hospitalafter receiving treatment for bronchitis, theAssociated Pressreported. He remarked to journalists that he was “still alive” before he was driven away.

Earlier this month, the pontiff addressed members of the Union of St. Catherine of Siena of the Missionaries of the Schoolin which he called on nuns to be messengers of joyand to refrain from gossip.

“Many times in my life I have encountered nuns with a vinegar face, and this is not friendly, this is not something that helps to attract people,” Francis said in his remarks on Jan. 4. “Vinegar is ugly and nuns with a vinegar face, let’s not say! In short: holiness, preparation and friendliness. I ask this of you.”

source: people.com