Seeing the leader of the Catholic Church being pushed through St. Peter’s Square in a chair instead of walking isn't exactly what people expect. It’s a bit jarring. For a man who used to be known as a "street priest" who would walk miles through the slums of Buenos Aires, the shift has been noticeable. Honestly, it’s led to a lot of rumors. People wonder if he’s dying or if he’s about to step down like Benedict XVI did. But the reality is actually a lot more about "stubbornness" and a specific medical refusal than some hidden terminal illness.
Basically, the reason why is Pope Francis in a wheelchair comes down to a perfect storm of a bad knee, old-school sciatica, and a very public refusal to go under the knife.
The Mystery of the Right Knee
It all started getting really bad back in early 2022. You might remember him limping quite heavily during various ceremonies. At first, the Vatican was pretty vague about it, calling it "knee pain" or "rest ordered by doctors." Eventually, the truth came out: he has a torn ligament in his right knee and a small fracture.
This wasn't just a "tweak." It was debilitating.
Think about it. He’s in his late 80s. Carrying around that much weight—both literally and the weight of the office—on a bone-on-bone joint is brutal. His doctors, including some high-profile specialists like José María Villalón (the head doctor for the Atlético Madrid soccer team), have been trying to get him back on his feet for years. But there's a catch.
Why won't he just get surgery?
This is where the "stubborn" part comes in. Most people in his position would have just had a knee replacement by now. It’s a standard procedure. However, Pope Francis had a really bad reaction to the general anesthesia during his 2021 colon surgery. He spent ten days in the hospital for that, and it spooked him. He told reporters point-blank that he didn’t like the "mess" it made of his head.
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Because he refuses the surgery, his doctors are stuck with "conservative" treatments:
- Laser therapy and magnets (kinda high-tech, right?).
- Infiltrations (basically anti-inflammatory shots directly into the joint).
- Intense physical therapy.
- Weight loss to take the pressure off.
The "Bothersome Guest" Named Sciatica
The knee is only half the story. Francis has also dealt with sciatica for decades. He actually calls it a "bothersome guest." If you’ve ever had a pinched nerve in your lower back, you know it’s not just "back pain." It’s a searing, electric shock that shoots down your leg.
When his sciatica flares up, it makes his gait uneven. When your gait is uneven, you put more weight on—you guessed it—the right knee. It’s a vicious cycle. One day he’s feeling okay and walking with a cane, the next day the nerve pain is so bad he can’t even stand up to give a homily.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Wheelchair
There’s a massive misconception that the wheelchair means he’s "incapable." In the Vatican’s eyes, the wheelchair isn't a sign of the end; it’s a tool for survival. By using the chair, he saves his energy for the stuff that actually matters—the meetings, the speeches, and the travel.
He even joked about it to a group of bishops, saying, "You govern with the head, not the legs."
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It’s also worth noting that he’s used this "weakness" as a teaching moment. He talks a lot about the "magisterium of fragility." Basically, he’s trying to show the world that being disabled or elderly doesn't mean you’re useless. He’s trying to normalize the idea of a leader who isn't physically perfect.
Real-World Impact on the Papacy
His mobility issues have changed the way the Vatican operates. It’s subtle, but it’s there.
- The Liturgy: You’ll notice he doesn't "preside" over Mass the way he used to. He often sits to the side while a Cardinal handles the altar duties, and he only stands for the most important parts.
- Travel: He still goes on international trips, but they are planned differently. He uses lifts to get on and off planes instead of stairs. He uses a specialized popemobile that’s easier to get in and out of.
- Resignation Talk: Every time he uses the chair for a week straight, the "will he resign?" articles start popping up. He hasn't ruled it out, but he’s made it clear that as long as his brain works, he’s staying put.
The Hungarian Connection and New Therapies
In 2025, there was some buzz about a Hungarian professor and PBM (Photobiomodulation) therapy. There were reports that this specific light-based therapy actually helped him get out of the chair more often. It’s not a miracle cure, but it shows that the Vatican is constantly looking for ways to keep him mobile without resorting to the operating table he fears so much.
The Current Reality in 2026
As of now, the situation is stable but permanent. You’re going to keep seeing him in that wheelchair. He’ll have "good days" where he uses a cane or even walks a few steps unassisted, and "bad days" where he stays seated the whole time.
It’s just part of the job now.
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He’s 89 years old. He’s missing part of a lung from a surgery when he was a young man. He’s had colon issues. He’s had bouts of bronchitis that put him in the hospital. The fact that he’s still traveling to places like Mongolia or South Sudan is, honestly, kind of wild when you think about the physical toll.
Practical Takeaways for Understanding the Pope's Health
If you’re following the news and see him in the chair, here are a few things to keep in mind so you don't fall for the "deathbed" clickbait:
- Watch the hands, not the legs: If he’s animated, gesturing, and speaking clearly, his health is generally fine. The chair is for the knee, not the heart.
- Anesthesia is the blocker: Until he changes his mind about surgery, the wheelchair is the only way he can stay active.
- The "Pope’s Nurse" is key: Massimiliano Strappetti, his personal health assistant, is the guy you’ll see constantly by his side. He’s the one who convinced the Pope to use the wheelchair in the first place to avoid further injury.
The chair has become as much a part of his image as the white zucchetto. It’s a reminder that even the most powerful people on the planet have to deal with the realities of an aging body.
If you want to keep tabs on his schedule or any major health updates, the official Vatican Press Office (Sala Stampa) is the only place that gives the real "official" word, though they usually wait until something is impossible to hide before they talk about it.