Pope taken to hospital after fall

The Vatican spokesman said today the Pope has been taken to a hospital in northern Italy after slipping and falling during his holiday in the Alps.

The Rev Federico Lombardi said Pope Benedict “slipped and got hurt” but that “it doesn’t seem to be serious”.

Rev Lombardi says the Pope went to the hospital in the town of Aosta this morning for an examination after the accident.

The ANSA news agency reported that he walked into the hospital with an aide.