The pope, Saturday, wearing a bandage after his fall
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June 12, 1999
Web posted at: 9:20 a.m. EDT (1320 GMT)

SANDOMIERZ, Poland (CNN) -- Pope John Paul II continued his busy schedule of activities in Poland on Saturday despite a fall that required him to receive three stitches on his right temple.

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said there were "no neurological repercussions" or other effects on the 79-year- old pope's health from what he called a "slight contusion."

The pope "slipped accidentally" and his head hit the ground while he was preparing to leave the Vatican Embassy in Warsaw early Saturday, Navarro-Valls said. He said he did not know what caused the pope to fall. A Vatican source told Reuters the accident happened in the pope's private bathroom in the embassy.

The pope was treated by Polish doctors before leaving by helicopter to a Mass in southern Poland.

The pontiff arrived on time for the Mass in the city of Sandomierz with a bandage visible just under his skullcap. He was helped up the stairs to the stage by two aides, but did not appear to be in pain or weakened as he delivered his sermon.

"There were no variations in health parameters, particularly blood pressure and heart rate," a Vatican statement said.

Past health problems

Besides surviving an 1981 assassination attempt, the pope has had numerous brushes with ill health.

Pope John Paul in the southeastern Polish city of Sandomierz, where he celebrated an open air Mass Saturday

Saturday's accident was the third time the pope was reported to have fallen in recent years.

He broke his shoulder when he fell during a Vatican audience with U.N. workers November 11, 1993. He underwent hip replacement surgery following a fall in his bathroom April 29, 1994.

Since that operation, the frail pontiff has walked slowly, using a cane. He sometimes slurs his speech and his left hands trembles, leading some to suspect he may have Parkinson's, a neurological disease. He has also had a large intestinal tumor removed.

But his voice has been generally clear and strong since he arrived in Poland on June 5 to begin a 13-day pilgrimage to his homeland.

No changes in schedule

Navarro-Valls said there would be "no variations at all" in the pope's schedule.

At Saturday's Mass, John Paul returned to a theme he has stressed since arriving for his longest-ever pilgrimage: keeping the nation he helped free from communism faithful to its Catholic heritage as it enters the next millennium.

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