Pope Francis injured his right forearm in a fall at his residence on Thursday, the Vatican said.
The Vatican said in a statement in Italian:
“This morning, as a result of a fall at the Santa Marta house, Pope Francis suffered a contusion of the right forearm, without fracture. The arm was immobilised as a precautionary measure.”
In a photograph released by the Vatican, the 88-year-old pontiff is pictured with his arm in a padded bandage.
Last week, US President Joe Biden awarded Pope Francis with the highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, for his peacemaking efforts. The discussion on global peace took place by telephone, after a cancellation of a face-to-face meeting in Rome.
