Pope Francis has appointed a Vatican nurse who he says “saved my life” as his personal health assistant, a new role for his papacy.
The appointment comes as the 85-year-old pope suffers from knee pain that has forced him to cancel numerous events.
He also admitted last week after a trip to Canada that he needs to slow down or even start thinking about retirement.
“The Holy Father has nominated Massimiliano Strapetti, nurse coordinator of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene, as his personal health assistant,” the Vatican said in a brief statement.
Ms Strapetti was widely identified as the Vatican hospital nurse hailed by the Pope in an interview last year for persuading him to undergo surgery for inflammatory bowel disease.
“He saved my life!” the pope told Spanish radio Cope after his surgery on July 4.
He added that the nurse had been there for three decades and was “a very experienced person”.
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