Les Combes, Italy, Jul 29, 2009 / 01:18 pm (CNA).- Pope Benedict XVI said today that his guardian angel did not prevent him from fracturing his wrist earlier this month. He suggested his angel was “certainly following superior orders” in order to use the accident to teach him humility and to provide him with more time for prayer.

Speaking at the Alpine resort Les Combes, where he tripped and injured his wrist ten days ago, the Pope thanked law enforcement officials for being “like angels” in their response to his accident.

“Unfortunately, my own guardian angel did not prevent my injury, certainly following superior orders,” Pope Benedict said, according to the Associated Press.

“Perhaps the Lord wanted to teach me more patience and humility, give me more time for prayer and meditation,” he continued.

The Pope had fractured his right wrist in his fall at his mountain chalet. He had surgery at a local hospital on July 17 and spent the remainder of his two-week vacation in a cast.

He maintained his public schedule but the cast made writing by hand difficult.

Pope Benedict had hoped to use his vacation to make progress on the second part of his book project Jesus of Nazareth. Instead of writing, he used a tape recorder to collect his thoughts.

The Pope left Les Combes on Wednesday evening to spend the rest of the summer in Castelgandolfo, the papal summer residence near Rome.

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