<p>Pope Benedict XVI underwent an operation in hospital on Friday after falling and breaking his right wrist while on holiday in northern Italy, the Vatican said.<br /><br />It was the first health scare for the 82-year-old pope since he became head of the Roman Catholic Church in April 2005. But Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said there was “no cause for concern.”<br /><br />The pontiff fell during the night at a chalet where he is staying in the mountain resort of Val d’Aosta, the Vatican said in a communique.<br /><br />Doctors used local anaesthetic on Benedict to operate on the wrist, Italian media reported.<br />Benedict, who is right-handed and an avid pianist in his leisure time, began a two-week holiday in the hamlet of Les Combes d’Introd on Monday. The pope had a piano sent to the chalet, media reports said.<br /><br />Vatican sources said the pope slipped and fell but was not ill and had not fainted.</p>
<p>Pope Benedict XVI underwent an operation in hospital on Friday after falling and breaking his right wrist while on holiday in northern Italy, the Vatican said.<br /><br />It was the first health scare for the 82-year-old pope since he became head of the Roman Catholic Church in April 2005. But Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said there was “no cause for concern.”<br /><br />The pontiff fell during the night at a chalet where he is staying in the mountain resort of Val d’Aosta, the Vatican said in a communique.<br /><br />Doctors used local anaesthetic on Benedict to operate on the wrist, Italian media reported.<br />Benedict, who is right-handed and an avid pianist in his leisure time, began a two-week holiday in the hamlet of Les Combes d’Introd on Monday. The pope had a piano sent to the chalet, media reports said.<br /><br />Vatican sources said the pope slipped and fell but was not ill and had not fainted.</p>