Pope Francis has appointed Massimiliano Strappetti as his personal health assistant, the Vatican said on Thursday.

The nurse was already the coordinator of the Vatican’s Health and Hygiene Directorate and had been closely monitoring the Catholic leader’s condition for months.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio gave an interview to Spanish radio Cope saying “a nurse saved my life” after he had colon surgery in August last year.

At the time, Francisco didn’t mention the name of the “very experienced” professional who helped him, but that was Strappetti anyway.

For several months now, the Pope has been dealing with an issue on his right knee that prevents him from walking long distances, causing the Catholic leader to even cancel trips and celebrations in the Vatican.

The Argentinean recently announced that due to the negative effects of the total anesthesia given to him during the colon surgery, he could not have a new surgery, and therefore he had to slow down and continue physical therapy.