Pope Francis says he’s ‘much better’ after two weeks of bronchitis

Rome. – he pope francisco He said on Wednesday he was feeling “much better” after the ordeal. bronchitis Two weeks later, he again asked aides to read his speech.

Francis, who had part of his lung removed as a young man, told a weekly public audience that he still gets tired if he talks too much.

The Pope, who turned 87 on December 17, fell ill with the flu on November 25 and was forced to cancel his planned visit. Dubai Attend climate conference United Nations.He later revealed that he had been diagnosed Cases of acute infectious bronchitis causing breathing difficulties.

This was his second bout of severe bronchitis this year, as he was hospitalized for three days in the spring receiving intravenous antibiotics.

Francis walked to the podium in the Vatican auditorium on crutches and smiled brightly at the cheering crowd. He seemed in good spirits and at the end of the audience received several bishops who came to speak with him privately.

Also read: Pope Francis recovers from acute bronchitis but does not attend Angelus

Explaining why he asked his aides to read his words, he said: “I’m better, but I get tired if I talk too much“.

Pope Francis then briefly asked for prayers for all those suffering from war, including in Ukraine, Israel and ring.

“Wars are always lost,” he said. “No one wins, everyone loses. The only winners are the weapons manufacturers.”

Also read: “Destroying creation is an offense against God,” Pope Francis says at COP28

To avoid worsening of his illness due to changing temperatures, Pope Francis has been giving his Sunday blessings every Sunday for the past two weeks in a chapel in the Vatican, rather than overlooking the church from an open window in his study. St. Peter’s Square.

However, the Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis will make his annual visit on Friday to pray in front of the statue of the Virgin Mary at the Spanish Steps in Rome to mark the important Catholic holiday and officially kick off Christmas in Rome.

The pope also plans to visit the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore again on that day, the Day of the Immaculate Conception, to pray in front of one of his favorite statues of Mary.

vare