Due to persistent knee discomfort, Pope Francis was compelled to empty his diary for the second time in less than a week on Tuesday, according to the Vatican.

“Due to knee pain, and following medical advice, Pope Francis has suspended today’s activities,“ according to the press office, which included his participation in a meeting of his advisory Council of Cardinals.

The 85-year-old pontiff, who has been pictured grinning in agony on multiple occasions in recent days, cleared his calendar on Friday to undergo medical exams.

Francis, who was elected Pope in 2013, had to abandon a trip to Florence in February because to “acute gonalgia,” according to the Vatican.

He has recently been unable to attend gatherings or preside over religious ceremonies because of discomfort in his right knee.

He also has hip discomfort that causes him to hobble, and he spent ten days in the hospital in July after undergoing colon surgery.

The pontiff, on the other hand, has a full agenda, with a trip to Malta earlier this month and travels to the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Canada, Lebanon, and Kazakhstan later this year.

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