Pope Francis falls while conducting Mass in Poland (VIDEO)

July 28, 2016 at 09:45

Pope Francis has fallen during a visit to Czestochowa, Poland. The pontiff was walking on stage, about to address the waiting crowd, but suddenly fell.

The 79-year-old pope, who hails from Argentina, was quickly helped to his feet by other religious figures. He subsequently took to his seat, continued the Mass and read his homily normally.Francis suffers from a medical condition called sciatica, in which pain sometimes severely affects his leg and lower back.

Pope Francis is undertaking a five-day visit to Poland and was visiting the country’s holiest shrine in the city of Czestochowa, which is in the south of the country.

Pope Francis is helped after falling as he arrives at the Jasna Gora shrine in Czestochowa, Poland July 28, 2016. © Stringer / Reuters

The shrine is home the Black Madonna, which is a Byzantine icon from sometime between the sixth and ninth centuries. It was brought to Poland around 600 years ago. The icon is painted on wood and covered with silver and jewels.