Resumed work

Pope Francis on the road to recovery after flu

Many are concerned about the Pope's health.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Filippo MONTEFORTE)

For the second time in three days, Pope Francis has canceled appointments for health reasons. The Vatican announced on Monday that the 87-year-old had canceled all audiences planned for the day due to a "mild flu". According to the Vatican, he is now out of the woods.

On Monday afternoon, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, emphasized that the Pope was on the mend after the flu. "He has recovered and resumed his normal work," said Parolin, according to media reports.

The appointments of the head of the Roman Catholic Church had previously been canceled on Monday morning. Out of caution, as the Pope does not have a fever, it was said.

Repeated health problems
Francis, who has been in office since 2013, has been experiencing increasing health problems 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. 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.

Last year, the pontiff was hospitalized twice in a clinic in Rome and had to undergo abdominal surgery. Due to a knee condition, Francis is now often confined to 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.