The Pope’s health returns to center stage: another coughing fit forced him to suspend his speech

New coughing attacks They forced the Pope to suspend the reading of his speech this Saturday, during the swearing-in ceremony of the President of the Court, Giuseppe Pignatone, in the Hall of Blessings, which inaugurated the judiciary in the Vatican.

“I thank you all for your presence and I have prepared a speech, but do you mind if I cannot read it due to bronchitis,” Francisco said. An official, Monsignor Ciampanelli, who accompanies him in all public ceremonies, read the speech and the ceremony continued.

The Pope did not suspend the morning audiences, which also included a meeting with German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz.

“During the cordial discussions at the Secretariat of State, satisfaction was expressed for the good relations and fruitful collaboration between the Holy See and Germany, highlighting the importance of the Christian faith in German society”, reads a note from the Vatican.

Among the “topics of common interest” addressed is “the migratory phenomenon”.

“Furthermore, particular reference was made to the conflicts in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, and the resulting commitment to peace, in the tireless search for a diplomatic solution as soon as possible after the cessation of hostilities,” the text adds.

The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said it early: “I saw the Pope last night and he is fine, he told me that the medical tests he had today (at the Gemmelli hospital – Isola Tiberanina, very close to the Holy See) ) had been positive.”

But We are no longer talking about a simple flu.

The hopes that the hospital checks, especially with a Computerized Axial Tomography (CT) that monitored the state of the lungs, had created peace of mind.

Long course of bronchitis

But this Saturday morning it was seen that the Pope’s condition has not changed. He has been suffering from bronchitis since November which forced him to cancel his trip to the major United Nations climate change conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Instead it was his number two, Parolin.

Two weeks ago the Pope began the spiritual exercises of Lent in the Vatican, which allowed him a restful isolation, without fatigue such as speeches that make him cough.

This Saturday, however, Francisco himself confirmed that the bronchitis attacking his lungs is moderate restlessness It is consolidated in Vatican circles, given the fear that bronchitis could lead to pneumonia, a real test for an elderly Pope of 87 years.

Last year, at the end of March, the pontiff had to be hospitalized for several days for pneumonia, but after treatment with antibiotics he was able to quickly resume his usual activities.

In any case, a series of surgical operations in recent years, and chronic knee problems due to arthrosis, have forced him on more than one occasion to suspend activity, amid fears and worries.