LES COMBES, Italy – Pope Benedict XVI said Wednesday that his "guardian angel" let him down when he fell and broke his wrist earlier this month, but that the angel was clearly acting "on superior orders."
The pope thanked law enforcement officials for being "like angels," as he prepared to depart Les Combes, the Alpine resort where he tripped and injured his wrist 10 days ago while on vacation.
"Unfortunately, my own guardian angel did not prevent my injury, certainly following superior orders," Benedict said.
"Perhaps the Lord wanted to teach me more patience and humility, give me more time for prayer and meditation," the pope added.
Benedict leaves Les Combes, near the French border, later Wednesday to spend the rest of the summer in Castel Gandolfo, a papal retreat near Rome.
The 82-year-old pope fell in his mountain chalet and fractured his right wrist. He had surgery at a local hospital on July 17 and spent the rest of his two-week vacation in a cast.
He kept up his limited public schedule and seemed to move with ease, though the injury made writing by hand difficult.
The pontiff had hoped to make progress during the vacation on the second installment of his two-book project on Jesus of Nazareth. The pope, who likes to write by hand, used a tape recorder to collect his thoughts.