The Vatican reported through an official statement that Pope Francis cancels this Saturday’s agenda for”mild flu status”, which prevents him from receiving the deacons of the Diocese of Rome, although the prayers of the Angelus this Sunday continue to be confirmed.
“Due to mild cases of influenza, as a precautionary measure, The Pope cancels today’s scheduled audience”, the Holy See reported, following the announcement Sunday prayers outside the window continueguaranteeing that there will be no more relevant information.
The pope promised to pray for Lent from last Sunday to Friday, February 23, the period of preparation for Easter, and would resume his agenda this Saturday, but the onset of the flu changed plans.
Flu background
In December last year, before his 87th birthday, the Pope had breathing difficulties caused by infectious bronchitis and had to cancel a trip to Dubai on the occasion of COP28, the annual climate summit organized by the United Nations (UN).
At the time, the pope had to celebrate the reciting of the Angelus in the Papal Palace, although he seemed to recover a few days later and even went to the Piazza di Spagna to pay homage to the Immaculate Conception on December 8.
Back in 2023, the Pope suffered from the same illness, which forced him to be hospitalized for three days and receive intravenous antibiotics.