VATICAN CITY (AFP) – Pope Francis himself, 87, said at an event at the Vatican that he had bronchitis and that he was unable to read his speech because of a cough.
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“I thank you all, I have prepared a speech but I cannot read it because of bronchitis,” the Argentine pope said at the opening of the Pontifical Judicial Year.
The pope was suffering from a mild flu and had to go to a Rome hospital on Wednesday for follow-up tests. That morning, he held a public audience at the Vatican but did not read any of his own words.
The pope canceled scheduled appointments last Saturday and Monday, although he led Angelus prayers on Sunday.
Francis did meet with German head of government Olaf Scholz this Saturday, to whom he expressed his hope for a diplomatic solution to the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
He also underwent abdominal surgery in June, and in December he had to cancel a trip to Dubai to attend COP28, the major annual climate event organized by the United Nations, due to bronchitis.
© 2024 AFP