Pope Francis has canceled his scheduled appointments for Monday due to a mild flu, according to a statement from the Vatican. The 87-year-old pontiff made the decision as a precautionary measure ahead of his upcoming four-day trip to Luxembourg and Belgium later this week.
The Vatican did not provide further details, but emphasised that the pope’s planned departure on Thursday for his 46th foreign visit remains on schedule. This trip follows a demanding 12-day tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania, from which Francis returned just under two weeks ago. During that trip, he headlined over 40 events across four countries, covering nearly 33,000 kilometers.
The pope, who now regularly uses a wheelchair due to knee and back pain, has faced several health challenges in recent years, including bouts of illness earlier this year that led to canceled appointments. However, Francis appeared to be in good form during his recent travels through Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore.
His upcoming trip to Luxembourg and Belgium will focus on issues such as the needs of migrants in Europe, and will include a meeting with survivors of abuse by Catholic clergy. Unlike the more rigorous itinerary in Southeast Asia, the European trip will feature a lighter schedule, with around a dozen events over four days.
Melissa Enoch
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