Pope fine after fall in Poland

Pope Francis is helped by Vatican Master of Ceremonies, Mons. Guido Marini as he stumbles on the altar as he celebrates a mass in Czestochowa, Poland, Thursday, July 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

CZESTOCHOWA, Poland—Pope Francis fell on Thursday after stumbling on an altar step during a visit to Poland but quickly got back to his feet, without injury.

The 79-year-old Argentine Pontiff stumbled, then fell down out of view before being helped to his feet by altar servers.

Vatican spokesperson Greg Burke told AFP “the Pope is fine” after Francis delivered a homily and said Mass at the revered Jasna Gora monastery in Czestochowa, southern Poland.

It is home to the Black Madonna, an icon that 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 hopped into 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.

Teenagers still wrapped in sleeping bags, elderly couples perched on folding chairs outside tents and families with Francis-themed balloons were serenaded by the Pope’s favorite tango music before his arrival.

Provide asylum

Ambulances and fire trucks 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 (WYD).

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 on Thursday by helicopter, heading back to Krakow where he would be presented with the keys to the city, before jumping on to a tram that would whisk him to the sprawling Blonia meadow for his first big WYD event.

 ‘Do your duty’   

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.  AFP