Knee problem forces Pope Francis to cancel Africa trip

Pontiff, 85, had planned to visit Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan in early July

Pope Francis has scrapped a trip to Africa owing to an ongoing problem with his knee, raising further scrutiny about the 85-year-old pontiff's health.

The Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said the planned visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan in early July had been cancelled at the request of his doctors in order not to jeopardise the results of the therapy that he is undergoing for his knee" and would be rescheduled to a later date.