Pope Francis has fallen and hurt his arm just weeks after another apparent fall resulted in a bruise on his chin, the Vatican said.

Francis did not break his arm in the incident on Thursday but a sling was put on as a precaution, a spokesman said in a statement.

On December 7, he struck his chin on his nightstand in an apparent fall that resulted in a bad bruise.

The 88-year-old has battled a series of health problems and often has to use a wheelchair.