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CV NEWS FEED // The Vatican press office announced that Pope Francis required a brief visit to the hospital on Saturday and was not able to appear for the prayer of the Angelus at noon on Sunday.
According to the press office, Francis showed discomfort and flu-like symptoms on Saturday, forcing him to cancel all scheduled activities to undergo a tomography at the Gemelli hospital in Rome to rule out lung complications. He returned to the Vatican as the results showed no need to remain at the hospital.
On Sunday, the 86-year-old Pontiff appeared via video link from the chapel of the Vatican guesthouse Santa Marta to announce that “today I cannot stand at the window because I have this problem of inflammation in my lungs.”
In a hoarse voice and showing difficulty breathing, he had the prayer read out by a priest, but did give the final blessing at the end of the Angelus.
The pope has been treated twice at the Gemelli hospital this year, first for pneumonia and later undergoing an abdominal surgery for a hernia. The second time he spent nine days in the hospital.
Nevertheless, the pope confirmed that he will be attending the climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, next weekend.