Pope Francis abruptly cancels audiences amid “mild’ health issue

Pope Francis has canceled some of his Saturday engagements because of a health issue, the Vatican has said.

The pontiff called off his engagements because of a “mild, flu-like state,” an update from the Holy See Press Office said. The Vatican also said on February 24 that the day’s engagements had been canceled, but that this was a preventative measure.

Pope Francis, 87, has suffered recent health issues including breathing problems, which he is prone to because of a bout of pneumonia in his youth in Argentina that led to the removal of part of his lung. The pontiff had to cancel a planned visit in December last year to the COP28 climate meeting in Dubai due to lung inflammation. In March last year, Pope Francis was treated at a hospital in Rome for a respiratory infection.

“Pope Francis is touched by the many messages received and expresses his gratitude for the closeness and prayer,” Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni said in a statement then.

This is a breaking news story, and it will be updated as more information becomes available.