Pope Francis brought his motorcade to a halt to check on a police officer who fell from her rearing horse along the route.

Francis descended from his popemobile on Thursday after celebrating Mass in Iquique to check on the officer, who was on guard while Francis and his entourage passed by.

The horse reared up violently as the vehicle approached and the officer tumbled off. Francis stood by the woman until an ambulance arrived with a stretcher and took her away, before resuming his ride.

The Vatican said the woman was conscious “and received some words of consolation from the Holy Father”.