Pope Francis suffers knee pain, cancels official events

The Vatican said, Pope Francis, who has suffered from knee pain in recent months, cleared his diary Friday to undergo medical checks.

Spokesman Matteo Bruni said, “The pope has slowed down his activities today due to medical checks that were necessary today. That’s why the agenda is empty today”.

Pope Francis, 85-year-old, had been due to meet Argentina’s foreign minister, Santiago Cafiero, on Friday but the meeting was cancelled, an Argentine government official told revealed.

An “acute” pain in the right knee, had made the Pope cancel a trip to Florence in February and this condition has also stopped him from presiding over Ash Wednesday celebrations, which is an alter to the tradition.

The Argentine pope, suffers from sciatica, a chronic nerve condition that causes, back, hip and leg pain that has occasionally forced him to cancel official events.

Reports have it that he underwent surgery for an inflamed large colon last year, but is believed to be otherwise in relatively good health.

During a weekend trip to Malta earlier this month, the pope used a lift for reduced mobility passengers to board the plane.

He walked with difficulty throughout the trip, after which he told reporters that his knee was “a little annoying but it’s getting better”.