Pope Francis has lung inflammation, but commits to Dubai visit for COP28
- Francis skipped his weekly Sunday appearance at a window overlooking St Peter’s Square, a day after the Vatican said he was suffering from a mild flu
- But he said he was going to the United Arab Emirates for the COP28 gathering on climate change and that he would deliver his speech
Pope Francis on Sunday revealed that he has a lung inflammation but will go later this week to Dubai to address the climate change conference.
Francis skipped his weekly Sunday appearance at a window overlooking St Peter’s Square, a day after the Vatican said he was suffering from a mild flu. Instead, Francis gave the traditional noon blessing in an appearance televised live from the chapel in the Vatican hotel where he lives.
“Brothers and sisters, happy Sunday. Today I cannot appear at the window because I have this problem of inflammation of the lungs,” Francis said. The pontiff, whose 87th birthday is next month, added that a priest, sitting beside him, would read out his day’s reflections for him.
“Besides war, our world is threatened by another great peril, that of climate change, which puts at risk life on Earth, especially for future generations,” the pontiff said in the words read by the priest.
“I thank all who will accompany this voyage with prayer and with the commitment to take to heart the safeguarding of the common house,” the pontiff said, using his term for Earth.
In the footage, it could be seen that the pope had a bandage on his right hand and what appeared to be a cannula. The Vatican did not immediately respond to a query from the AP about whether he was receiving intravenous or some other treatment.
