Pope Francis did not receive anyone in audiences yesterday because he has a fever, the Vatican said.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni did not provide further information on the health of the 86-year-old Roman Catholic leader.
“Because of a fever, Pope Francis did not receive (anyone) in audiences this morning,” Bruni said in response to a reporter’s question on why none were listed on his daily schedule earlier in the day.
Francis spent five days in a Rome hospital at the end of March for bronchitis but recovered following an infusion of antibiotics and returned to his duties, including a three-day trip to Hungary at the end of April.
Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin blamed the Pontiff’s busy schedule.
“The Pope was tired, yesterday he had a very busy day, he saw many people ... he wanted to say hello to them all,” said Parolin, according to Italian news agencies. “And probably at a certain point the resistance breaks down.”
Francis had eight meetings on Thursday, according to his published schedule.
The Pope’s morning audiences are usually reserved for heads of states, associations and clerics, while his afternoons are devoted to work and private meetings.
He appeared to be fatigued at a meeting with students near the Vatican on Thursday afternoon. – Reuters/AFP