Pope Francis presided over his weekly public audience at the Vatican on Wednesday but said he still feels unwell and asked an adviser to read his remarks as he can only speak in whispers.
Francis, who turns 87 on Dec. 17 and had to have part of a lung removed when he was young, coughed toward the end of the hours-long hearing as he delivered some closing remarks, despite rising from his chair to deliver his blessings. .
In a low voice, barely above a whisper, Francisco told the audience that he was “not feeling well” so that the reading of his speech would not “sound good.”
Still, Francis spoke at the end of the audience, expressing his satisfaction with the ceasefire in the fighting between Israel and Hamas, and saying he hopes the pause continues “so that all hostages are released” and so that there is access to humanitarian aid . needed in Gaza.
‘They lack bread and water, people are suffering’Francisco complained.
On Tuesday, the Vatican announced that doctors had asked the pope, who has pneumonia that is causing breathing problems, not to make the three-day trip he was due to make to the UN climate conference, known as COP28, in Dubai.
The trip would have started on Friday and the Pope would return to Rome on Sunday.
The Holy See’s announcement about the trip’s cancellation said the pope’s medical condition had improved, but noted that Francis has flu and “inflammation of the respiratory tract.”
The Pope, who has made environmental stewardship a priority of his papacy, nevertheless wants to participate in some way in the COP28 debates to be held in the United Arab Emirates, according to the Holy See.
It was unclear whether Francis would be able to read his speech at the climate conference via video conference or participate in some other way.
The Vatican said the pope agreed to the doctors’ request “with great regret.”
Towards the end of Wednesday’s audience, circus performers took to the stage to entertain the pope with an acrobatic act, which appeared to amuse Francis, even posing for a photo with the group.
“I want to thank you for this moment of joy”he said, adding that the circus expresses the human dimension of “simple joy” and asks the audience to applaud.
Francis was hospitalized for three days earlier this year for intravenous antibiotic treatment for what the Vatican said was bronchitis.
The Vatican added that the pope is also currently receiving intravenous antibiotics.
A CT scan performed at a hospital in Rome on November 25 ruled out pneumonia, according to the Vatican.
Source: DN
