Pope Francis was spotted with a significant bruise on his chin at the Vatican City during a ceremony to install new cardinals. The incident occurred on February 4, 2023, during the ceremony to create 21 new cardinals in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Despite bearing the bruise, Pope Francis appeared somewhat fatigued, but continued with the scheduled ceremony without apparent difficulties. The Vatican declined to comment on the cause of the bruise, leaving it unclear how he sustained the injury.
At 88 years old, Pope Francis has been experiencing a range of health issues in recent years, including knee and back pain, which has required him to use a wheelchair. This is not the first time the Pope has suffered a noticeable injury; in 2017, he sported a black eye after hitting his head on a support bar during a trip to Colombia.