Pope Francis is receiving antibiotics intravenously to treat lung inflammation and will scale back some appointments, but he doesn’t have pneumonia or fever, the Vatican said yesterday. Source: NCR Online.
Pope Francis said on Sunday that he was suffering from the inflammation problem, explaining why he didn’t keep his weekly window appointment to greet people in St Peter’s Square.
Vatican press office director Matteo Bruni said in a written statement yesterday that the inflammation was causing some respiratory difficulties for Francis, whose 87th birthday is next month.
“The condition of the Pope is good and stationary, he doesn’t have a fever, and the respiratory situation is in clear improvement,’’ Mr Bruni said.
To aid the Pope’s recovery, “some important commitments expected for the next days have been postponed so he can dedicate the time and desired energy” to his recovery, the spokesman said.
Other appointments, “of institutional character or easier to maintain given the current health conditions, have been maintained,” Mr Bruni added.
The spokesman didn’t spell out which appointments were being put off. Yesterday morning, Francis had a private, half-hour-long meeting with audience the president of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, at his residence instead of the Apostolic Palace.
In televised remarks on Sunday, Francis indicated he was going ahead with a three-day trip, beginning on Friday to the United Arab Emirates, to deliver a speech on climate change at the upcoming United Nations COP28 climate talks.
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Pope Francis getting antibiotics intravenously for lung problem, limiting appointments, Vatican says (AP via NCR Online)
