Shots! Pope jokes ‘a little tequila’ would ease knee pain

By Samantha Allen

Published: May 17, 2022 | 7:03 PM BST

Pope Francis has quipped that a shot of tequila would help him with a painful knee that has forced the 85-year-old Argentinian to use a wheelchair.

“You know what I need for my leg? A little tequila!”

Francis joked with a group of Mexican priests in a video posted on TikTok that went viral Monday.

The pontiff was doing the rounds of St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican in his pope-mobile after the general audience on Wednesday when he stopped to say hello to the group of newly-ordained priests, one of whom asked him about his knee.

“Very capricious,” replies a smiling Francis, who has had to cancel some audiences due to an injured ligament in his right knee and chronic arthritis.

WISECRACKED ABOUT TEQUILA

The priest thanks the pontiff for his good mood “in spite of your discomfort”, prompting the head of the Roman Catholic Church to confess he would be even jollier had he some tequila to hand.

It is not the first time Francis has wisecracked about tequila. In 2016, ahead of a trip to Mexico, one enthusiastic priest shouted out to Francis in Saint Peter’s Square “we are waiting for you!”

“With tequila or without tequila?”

the pontiff asked with a cheeky smile.

About Samantha Allen

Samantha Allen is a seasoned journalist and senior correspondent at TDPel Media, specializing in the intersection of maternal health, clinical wellness, and public policy. With a background in investigative reporting and a passion for data-driven storytelling, Samantha has become a trusted voice for expectant mothers and healthcare advocates worldwide. Her work focuses on translating complex medical research into actionable insights, covering everything from prenatal fitness and neonatal care to the socioeconomic impacts of healthcare legislation. At TDPel Media, Samantha leads the agency's health analytics desk, ensuring that every report is grounded in accuracy, empathy, and scientific integrity. When she isn't in the newsroom, she is an advocate for community-led wellness initiatives and an avid explorer of California’s coastal trails.