VATICAN CITY— Pope Francis has taken precautions by canceling an audience after being diagnosed with a mild case of the flu. The Vatican press office announced this decision without providing further details. The pontiff was originally scheduled to meet with Rome deacons on Saturday morning.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni indicated that the pope’s upcoming weekly Sunday Angelus address was still up in the air, and no additional health updates were anticipated for the day. At 87 years old, Pope Francis has faced various health issues in recent years. In late November, he had to alter his activities and cancel an international trip due to breathing problems, which were later determined not to be related to his lungs. This is in part due to having a portion of one lung removed during his youth in Argentina.
In April, the pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital for bronchitis and received intravenous antibiotics before being discharged. He also had two separate stays at the same hospital in 2021 and 2023, the former for intestinal surgery and the latter to repair an abdominal hernia. Despite his health challenges, Pope Francis has expressed readiness to resign if his health significantly deteriorates, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Benedict XVI. However, in a recent television interview, he stated that he was in good health and had no immediate plans to step down.
The speculation surrounding Pope Francis’ health and the future of his papacy has increased since the resignation of Benedict XVI in 2013, a historic event that marked the first time a pontiff had stepped down in six centuries. Pope Francis has repeatedly joked about his health in public appearances, reassuring his followers by stating, “Still alive, you know.” Despite his health concerns, the pontiff remains committed to his role as the leader of the Catholic Church.