Poland: Pope Francis missed a step and fell to
the ground Thursday as he walked on an open-air platform to celebrate Mass at
Poland's holiest shrine of Jasna Gora, home to the Black Madonna, in the
southern city of Czestochowa.
In a dramatic moment, the 79-year-old Francis, walking deep in thought in his
long robe, did not notice a step down and fell to the ground before the altar.
Priests around him rushed to help him up and straightened his robe.
Asked if Francis had suffered any ill effects from the fall, a
Vatican spokesman, Greg Burke, said "the pope is fine."
"He is in good condition. He did not even
complain at all. He never said a word," Depo said. "Also the homily
showed that the pope has strength and this strength he gets from the people."
It has become common knowledge that our
79-year-old pope suffers from poor health and often asks the faithful to pray
for him. Pope Francis suffers from sciatica, which sometimes sends a shooting
pain down his lower back to his leg. In November 2015, the pontiff was also
reported falling more than once in a short period.
Following Mass, the Pope jumped in his popemobile
and traveled through crowds of cheering people.
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