Pope again cancels appearances due to nerve pain Pope Francis is once again canceling public appearances due to nerve painVATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis is once again canceling public appearances due to nerve pain. Francis will not participate in three events over the coming days “due to a recurrence of sciatica,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement on Saturday. Nerve pain also forced the pope to skip New Year’s ceremonies in St. Peter’s Basilica. The flareup of Francis’ sciatica raises questions about his planned March 3-8 trip to Iraq, a visit that some have questioned given the coronavirus pandemic. It is a form of pain in the lower body caused by compression or irritation on nerve roots or on the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower spine down the thigh.

Source: ABC News January 23, 2021 18:22 UTC