Pope recovers after breaking wrist

The Pope is recovering at his holiday home in northern Italy after surgery on a broken wrist. He suffered the injury when falling in his bath. The Vatican said the break was minor, but required an operation at hospital in the town of Aosta. Anxious well-wishers gathered at the hospital to pray for the Pope’s recovery. The operation lasted about 20 minutes, and was carried out under local anaesthetic, but is said to have gone well.

“There is a slight difference between performing surgery on Mr Ordinary and on the Pope, but the operation was a success,” said orthopaedic surgeon Amadeo Mancini. “But, the x-rays showed the fracture was perfectly re-aligned, and I expect him to make a full recovery.”

Benedict became Pope following the death of John Paul II in 2005. He suffered a minor stroke that same year, and also has a mild heart complaint.
Despite the injury, he was able to celebrate Mass and eat breakfast before going to hospital. However, the break will curtail his favourite hobby, playing the piano.

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tags: Benedict XVI