The Pope confessed to the journalists accompanying him on his trip to Bahrain that he suffers «a lot of pain» in his knee. Francis boarded the plane in a wheelchair and for the first time since the beginning of his pontificate, he did not go around the plane to greet journalists one by one.
I have a lot of pain in my knee,» he said, leaning on the cane he uses to get around. I don’t feel able to go that way, but I would love for you to do it,» he said before sitting down, according to the journalists accredited on the papal flight on their social networks.
However, the Pontiff has spent a few minutes chatting with each of the journalists. This is Francis’ 392nd apostolic journey and his fourth this year.
In July, the Pope had to cancel a planned July trip to Africa on doctor’s orders due to knee problems, raising doubts about the 85-year-old pontiff’s health and mobility.
This is the second visit to the region, since in 2019 the Pope visited the United Arab Emirates, where he launched a message of coexistence between religions.
