“I have prepared a speech, but as you can see, I am not able to read due to bronchitis. I asked (Monsignor Filippo) Ciampanelli to read it.” This is how Pope Francis excused himself this Saturday during the inauguration of the judicial year of the State Court of Vatican City. Despite having an affected voice, the Pontiff has maintained his agenda with several hearings in addition to the aforementioned judicial inauguration.
Francis, still tired from the flu he has been suffering from for days, spoke a few words of greeting, but then let Monsignor Ciampanelli read the prepared speech.
The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, confirmed this Thursday that the Pope “feels well” and the tests he underwent at the Gemelli hospital on Tiber Island, in the center of Rome, were “routine” after after spending several days with the flu.
Last Monday, the Vatican reported that the Pope’s “mild flu-like symptoms, although without fever,” persisted, but that the planned audiences had been suspended as a precaution.
Last Sunday, the Pontiff celebrated the traditional Sunday prayer of the Angelus, leaning out of the window of the pontifical palace and reading in a good voice before the thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
At the end of November, the Pope suffered from bronchitis for which he had to cancel some of the events and celebrate the Angelus in private and also be replaced by a collaborator to read his speeches.
To allow his recovery, the Argentine Pontiff canceled the trip planned at the beginning of December to Dubai to participate in the Climate Summit. But later he fully recovered and even on December 8 he went to the Plaza de España to the traditional tribute to the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception.
