The Vatican announced that Pope Francis cancelled his Saturday morning audiences due to a mild flu, as stated in an official statement.
Typically engaging in regular meetings on Saturdays with Vatican officials, including a weekly session with the head of the department overseeing the appointment of bishops, as well as private audiences, the 86-year-old pontiff also had a planned meeting with the president of Guinea-Bissau.
This recent cancellation follows a prior incident earlier in the month when the Pope, suffering from a cold, refrained from delivering a prepared speech during a meeting with European rabbis. However, he appeared in good health just hours later, during an interaction with children.
In June, Pope Francis underwent surgery for an abdominal hernia and spent nine days in the hospital. He has since shown signs of complete recovery from the procedure.
Having lost part of a lung earlier in his life in Argentina, the Pope has persisted despite health challenges.
His next scheduled public appearance is set for Sunday, where he is anticipated to address crowds in his weekly Angelus message at St. Peter’s Square.
Additionally, he is slated to attend the COP28 climate conference in Dubai from December 1st to 3rd, during which he is expected to engage in extensive bilateral meetings with world leaders attending the event. The conference itself spans from November 30th to December 12th.
