Pope Francis takes a fall during mass in front of millions
Pope Francis had a moment to forget when he missed a step and fell to the ground on Friday morning as he walked on an open-air platform to celebrate Mass at Poland's holiest shrine of Jasna Gora.
In the dramatic moment, the 79-year-old Argentine pontiff was walking in his long robe with an incense holder in his hand when he didn't notice a step down from the platform and stumbled, then fell down out of view.
Francis braced his fall with his left hand and priests around him rushed to help, with Mons. Guido Marini, an aide, helping him back to his feet.
Pictures captured the moment Pope Francis fell over during Mass in front of a television audience of millions while visiting Poland's holiest site. Photo: Getty
Czestochowa Archbishop Waclaw Depo said Francis fell because he had closed his eyes and appeared to miss a step.
"He is in good condition. He did not even complain at all. He never said a word," Depo said. "Also the homily showed that the pope has strength and this strength he gets from the people."
Asked if Francis had suffered any ill effects from the fall, a Vatican spokesman, Greg Burke, said "the pope is fine." Photo: Getty
The Mass proceeded as planned and thePpope delivered a long homily to millions of viewers as they tuned in on their television sets.
Tens of thousands of faithful gathered at the foot of the Jasna Gora monastery in Poland's southern city of Czestochowa for a glimpse of the Pope during Mass.
Outdoors, the Argentine said Mass for a congregation numbering in the tens of thousands, thanking Poles for holding on to their faith in difficult times. Photo: Reuters
It is home to the Black Madonna, an icon which Catholic faithful believe has miraculous qualities.
Security was tight at the hill-top shrine following a series of attacks in Europe, with a highly visible police and army presence on the roads leading into the city.
Francis, 79, hopped in an open-topped popemobile for a tour through the cheering crowds.
"We slept so little, but it's worth it, what an atmosphere!" said pilgrim Kate Tor, whose young sons were among the thousands of children who had camped out on the sweeping avenue leading to the monastery.
Huge crowds gathered to see the Pontiff off in style as he was flanked by security and clergymen on the tram during the World Youth Day. Photo: EPA
Teenagers still wrapped in sleeping bags, elderly couples perched on folding chairs outside tents and families with Francis-themed balloons were serenaded by the Argentine pope's favourite tango music before his arrival.
Ambulances and fire-engines were on standby with Polish officials taking no chances with security following the jihadist murder of a priest in a French church on the eve of the pope's five-day trip to celebrate the 2016 World Youth Day.
Shortly after touching down in Poland, Francis said the world was at war but argued that religion was not the cause, insisting the way for people to "overcome fear" was to provide asylum to those fleeing conflict.
Francis left Czestochowa Thursday by helicopter, heading back to to Krakow where he will be presented with the keys to the city, before jumping on to a tram which will whisk him to the sprawling Blonia meadow for his first big WYD event.
At his first meeting with youngsters on Wednesday evening at the window of the archbishop's palace in Krakow, he encouraged the thousands gathered below to party.
"Now go and do your duty, make noise all night long!" he finished with a grin.
