Pope Francis, 87, suffers from bronchitis, as he himself said this Saturday at an event in the Vatican where he was unable to read his speech because of a cough.
“Thank you all, I have prepared a speech but I cannot read it because of bronchitis,” said the Argentine pontiff at the opening of the judicial year in the Holy See.
The Pope, suffering from a mild flu, He had to go to a hospital in Rome on Wednesday to undergo follow-up examinations. That morning he held his general audience at the Vatican, but did not read his own text. The pontiff canceled his scheduled appointments last Saturday and Monday, although he led the Angelus prayer on Sunday in between. This Saturday he is scheduled to receive German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz.
Francisco, who uses a wheelchair, has had a number of health problems in recent years, particularly in his knees, hips and colon. He also had abdominal surgery in June and in December he had to cancel his trip to Dubai for COP28, the United Nations’ major annual climate event, also due to bronchitis.
dmr