Pope Francis cancelled his audiences on Saturday and travelled to Rome’s Gemelli hospital to undergo a CT scan on his lungs in connection with flu-like symptoms. Source: Vatican News.
The tests yielded negative results for any risk of pulmonary complications and he then returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta, the Holy See Press Office said in a statement.
When he was 21, Pope Francis developed pleurisy, an inflammation of the tissues surrounding the lung, which led to surgery to remove three pulmonary cysts and a small part of his upper right lung.
Earlier on Saturday, Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni announced the Pope’s audiences for the day would not take place.
The Pope’s scheduled Sunday Angelus address yesterday was delivered via livestream from the chapel of his residence Casa Santa Marta, instead of his customary appearance at the window overlooking St Peter’s Square.
During the live transmission, Francis lamented that he was too sick to read the Angelus himself.
“Today I can’t look out the window because I have this lung inflammation problem,” the Pope said.
The address was read by Msgr Paolo Braida, a close collaborator of the Pope.
Msgr Braida reiterated that Pope Francis would be attending the United Nations COP28 climate conference as previously announced, which will be held in Dubai at the end of this week.
Poe Francis is expected to be present at the conference for three days, from Friday to Sunday.
FULL STORY
Pope has a mild flu, CT scan shows no pulmonary issues (Vatican News)
Papal aide relays Pope Francis’ remarks at Sunday Angelus while pope recovers from flu (By Matthew Santucci, CNA)
