ROME (dpa-AFX) – Pope Francis has canceled his trip to Dubai for the World Climate Conference next weekend due to a respiratory illness. Although the head of the Catholic Church’s health has improved, his doctors have asked him not to go on the three-day trip, Holy See spokesman Matteo Bruni said on Tuesday evening. “Pope Francis accepted the doctors’ request with great regret and the trip is therefore canceled,” Bruni continued.
According to the Vatican, the 86-year-old pontiff has been suffering from mild flu and inflammation in the lungs and respiratory tract since last weekend. The Argentine has already had to cancel appointments and held the traditional Angelus prayer from his residence and had large parts of his speech read out by a priest. Francis appeared exhausted, coughed and had to be treated with intravenous antibiotics.
The pontiff was supposed to take part in a world climate conference for the first time. From Friday to Sunday he wanted to travel to the Arab Emirate of Dubai for the COP28 summit. It was initially unclear whether Francis would be connected via video for his planned speech or what the exact plans were for this.
Concern about the Pope is once again great among Catholics worldwide. Francis will be 87 years old in December. His health has been bothering him for some time. He has already been treated in a clinic twice this year. First because of pneumonia. He later had to undergo open abdominal surgery under general anesthesia./rme/DP/he