Concern about the pontiff

“Mild flu”: Pope cancels audiences again

Pope Francis at the Angelus prayer on February 25(Bild: AFP)

For the second time in three days, Pope Francis has canceled appointments for health reasons. He is suffering from a "mild flu" and has canceled all audiences planned for the day.

Although the head of the Roman Catholic Church does not have a fever, the appointments on Monday morning were canceled as a precaution, according to a statement from the Vatican.

Appointments already canceled at the weekend
Francis, who has been in office since 2013, has been increasingly struggling with his health for some time. The Argentinian had already canceled his appointments on Saturday. On Sunday, he had celebrated Mass in St. Peter's Basilica and said the Angelus prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace as planned.

The head of the Church also attended the traditional New Year's Eve prayer in a wheelchair once again.(Bild: AFP)

In recent months, the religious leader of more than 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide has had problems with inflammation of the respiratory tract on several occasions.

Eleven years in office as Pope in March
Last year, the pontiff was hospitalized twice in a clinic in Rome and had to undergo abdominal surgery. Due to a knee condition, Francis now often sits in a wheelchair during public appearances. Born in Argentina, he will celebrate eleven years in office next month as the successor to German Pope Benedict XVI.