Pope Francis missed a meeting with a Jewish delegation on June 30, due to a recurrence of severe pain in his knee.

The apparent setback occurred after the Pope’s condition had seemed to be improving, and he had told a group of Spanish bishops that he had been able to walk without assistance. Pope Francis has rejected the option of surgery for his painful knee condition, which has forced him to postpone a planned trip to Africa that was scheduled for early July, and now threatens another papal voyage, to Canada, later in the month.

In a prepared message to the Jewish delegation, the Pontiff said that inter-religious dialogue is valuable as a sign of mutual respect and an aid in the fight against extremism.