Victor Ezeja
The health condition of Catholic Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis, has raised concerns and speculations of possible resignation from the office.
Pope Francis has in recent years been battling with some health problems including bronchitis, making him to often use a wheelchair because his knees have been affected.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHe also reportedly uses a walker or cane when moving around his apartment in the Vatican’s Santa Marta.
The 88-year-old Pope fell on Thursday while walking around in his apartment at the Vatican.
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According to a statement issued by the Holy See Press Office, the fall led to injury on the Pope’s right arm.
“This morning, due to a fall at the Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis suffered a contusion to his right forearm, without fracture. The arm was immobilised as a precautionary measure,” part of the statement read.
The fall is the second in a month. On 7 December, he reportedly fell, hitting his bedside table during the night and had a large bruise on his chin.
While he is yet to get over that, the Thursday’s fall occurred.
The Pope was seen on Thursday in audiences wearing a sling cloth on his right arm. A picture shared on social media showed the Pope in a meeting with the head of the U.N. fund for agricultural development, Alvaro Lario, when he apologetically offered his left hand for a greeting. Aside from that he also held four other meetings on Thursday, according to Vatican.
In a post on X handle on Thursday, Catholic Satellite, called for prayers the Holy Father. While thanking God that the Pope’s injury did not result in fracture, he however did noted that repeated falls at elderly stage is not a good sign.
The health challenges have raised another round of speculation about the possibility of resignation after his predecessor, Pope Benedict xvi reigned in 2013, breaking a 600 year tradition. The German-born clergy had then cited health challenges as reason for his resignation.
Benedict’s aides had said the decision came after a nighttime fall that he suffered during a trip to Mexico in 2012.
However, Francis, who has so far spent about a decade and nine months in the papacy, dismissed the speculations, saying he has no plans yet to resign.
In his autobiography published recently, the Pope assured that he is in good health and further dismissed the option of resigning. He, however, noted that the “the reality is, quite simply, that I am old.”
Speaking on his use of a wheelchair, Francis said he felt embarrassed at first, but he accepted the reality stemming from his old age.
On why he thinks his present health challenge poses no threat to his papacy position, the Pope said: “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.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
