Pope Francis presides over ceremony for new cardinals with wide bruise on his chin

Pope Francis presides over ceremony for new cardinals with wide bruise on his chin | iNFOnews.ca
Pope Francis reacts during a solemn mass where he made 21 new cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis was seen with a significant bruise on his chin Saturday, but presided over a ceremony to install new cardinals without apparent problems.

The Vatican didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment about the cause of the bruise.

The pontiff, who turns 88 later this month, appeared slightly fatigued, but carried on as normal with the scheduled ceremony to create 21 new cardinals in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Francis has suffered several health problems in recent years and now uses a wheelchair due to knee and back pain.

In 2017, while on a trip to Colombia, Francis sported a black eye after he hit his head on a support bar when his popemobile stopped short.

Pope Francis presides over ceremony for new cardinals with wide bruise on his chin | iNFOnews.ca
Pope Francis reacts during a solemn mass where he made 21 new cardinals in St. Peter’s Basilica at The Vatican, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis presides over ceremony for new cardinals with wide bruise on his chin | iNFOnews.ca
British theologian Timothy Peter Joseph Radclife, right, receives from Pope Francis, left, the cardinals’ biretta hat and ring as he is made cardinal during a solemn mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at The Vatican, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis presides over ceremony for new cardinals with wide bruise on his chin | iNFOnews.ca
Domenico Battaglia, Archbishop of Naples, Italy, right, receives from Pope Francis, left, the cardinals’ hat and ring as he is made cardinal during a solemn mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at The Vatican, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis presides over ceremony for new cardinals with wide bruise on his chin | iNFOnews.ca
British theologian Timothy Peter Joseph Radclife, right, receives from Pope Francis, left, the cardinals’ biretta hat and ring as he is made cardinal during a solemn mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at The Vatican, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

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