Pope breaks wrist in holiday fall

The pope had to undergo an operation today after falling and breaking his wrist at his holiday home in the Alps.

The operation was performed under local anaesthesia and went well, said the Umberto Parini hospital in Aosta, Northern Italy. Surgeons operated on the wrist to reduce the fracture, a procedure to realign the broken bone fragments, it said.

The Vatican said the 82-year-old pope fell in his room overnight and despite the accident, celebrated Mass and had breakfast before going to hospital.

Doctors took an X-ray of the pope’s right wrist and found a fracture.

The pope has been healthy during his five-year pontificate. There have been no reports of medical problems.

A Vatican spokesman said earlier the pope had slipped and was hurt, but that it did not seem serious.

He said the pope went to the hospital for an examination after the accident.

The pope has been staying at a chalet in the village of Les Combes in the Valle d’Aosta region near the French border since Monday.

His predecessor, Pope John Paul II, also spent several summers at Les Combes. While John Paul liked to hike, the pope spends most of his time inside the chalet that looks out on Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps.

The pope has spent two summers at Les Combes in recent years. He said upon arrival that he expected to rest and work during his vacation.

He is scheduled to be away until July 29, making at least two public appearances in the Valle d’Aosta area, including the traditional Angelus prayer on Sunday. He is expected to stick to his schedule despite the accident.

One pleasure that he is sure to be denied is playing the piano. The pope is a classical music lover and enjoys playing the instrument while on holiday.