For the second time in less than a month, Pope Francis has injured himself in a fall.
The Vatican confirmed to the media today that Francis fell this week, injuring his arm that required immobiliazion in a sling.
Here’s the latest on the Pope’s injury, and what the Vatican is saying about his longterm health.
According to a statement from the Vatican, Thursday’s fall occurred at his apartment in the Santa Marta hotel.
He was later seen in audiences with his right arm in a sling, but did not break his arm according to the Vatican.
“This morning, due to a fall at Santa Marta House, Pope Francis suffered a contusion to his right forearm, without fracture. The arm was immobilized as a precautionary measure,” a Vatican spokesperson said.
This is the second fall Francis has suffered in less than two months.
On Dec. 7, the pope hit his chin on his nightstand in an apparent fall that resulted in a bad bruise.
Pope Francis, 88, has battled health problems including long bouts of bronchitis and often has to use a wheelchair because of bad knees.
Reports also say that he uses a walker or cane when moving around his home.
Speculation on Francis’ health has been constant within Vatican circles. His health is more of a priority now after Pope Benedict XVI broke 600 years of tradition and resigned from the papacy in 2013.
Benedict’s aides said at the time the decision to resign was due to a nighttime fall that he suffered during a 2012 trip to Mexico, after which he determined he couldn’t keep up with the globe-trotting demands of the papacy.
However, Pope Francis has said that he has no plans to resign anytime soon, even if Benedict “opened the door” to the possibility.
In his autobiography “Hope” released this week, Francis said that he hadn’t considered resigning even when he had major intestinal surgery.