Pope Francis reacts to the Texas school massacre 0:36
(CNN) --
Pope Francis has postponed his July visit to Africa because of a knee problem, the Vatican press office said in a statement Friday.
"At the request of his doctors, and in order not to jeopardize the results of the therapy he is undergoing for his knee, the Holy Father has regretfully been forced to postpone his Apostolic Journey to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. and to South Sudan, scheduled for July 2-7, at a later date to be determined," the statement read.
Pope Francis is forced to use a wheelchair due to knee pain
It is the first time that Pope Francis has had to postpone a trip for health reasons.
For several months he has been suffering from knee pain.
Pope Francisco