Pope Francis reappeared to celebrate the Angelus prayer after suspending his Saturday schedule due to flu

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Pope Francis Celebrates Sunday Angelus Prayer Despite Battling Flu

Pope Francis appeared at the window of the papal palace to celebrate the traditional Sunday Angelus prayer, looking out over St. Peter’s Square filled with faithful followers. This comes after the Pope canceled his scheduled activities on Saturday due to what was described as “a slight flu.”

The Vatican reported on Saturday that the Pontiff had opted to cancel his planned meetings with the deacons of the diocese of Rome as a precautionary measure. This was in line with his decision to focus on Lenten spiritual exercises that he conducted personally within the Vatican, rather than at the usual location outside of Rome.

Although the Pope has typically performed these exercises with the Roman Curia in previous years, recent health concerns have led to a change in plans. Francis had to conduct the retreat alone in the Vatican in 2020 due to a cold, and pandemic restrictions in 2021 prevented group gatherings. The same approach was taken in 2022 and 2023, and it will continue in 2024.

Notably, Pope Francis had experienced bronchitis in late November, forcing him to miss certain events and limit public appearances. Recovery from this ailment also led to the cancellation of a planned trip to Dubai for the Climate Summit.

During his Sunday reflection, the Pope encouraged Catholics to embrace the Lenten season by recognizing the beauty in all individuals, regardless of their circumstances. He also marked the upcoming anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine, expressing concern for the ongoing suffering and calling for a diplomatic resolution for lasting peace.

As the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis reiterated his prayers for the people of Ukraine and urged the global community to seek humanity in resolving conflicts and fostering peace.