Pope Francis's anticipated attendance at the United Nations climate summit in Dubai has been canceled due to his doctors' advice, the Vatican announced on Tuesday. While the Pope's overall health has been improving after battling influenza and lung inflammation, his physicians have recommended that he take it easy, prompting the cancellation of his trip. Matteo Bruni, the Vatican spokesman, expressed the Pope's regret in accepting the doctors' request but assured that alternative ways would be sought to ensure the Pope's involvement in the ongoing climate discussions at the summit.
Concerns about Pope Francis's health have risen in recent years, given his age and medical history. Aged 87, he has been hospitalized three times in the past two years, with his most recent hospitalization occurring in June due to an incisional hernia. This hernia, a consequence of previous surgeries, had been causing painful intestinal blockages. Prior to that, he had undergone colon surgery in 2021 and was hospitalized for a respiratory infection in March of this year. Given these health challenges, the Pope's doctors have been closely monitoring his condition.
On Saturday, the Pope canceled his meetings due to mild flu-like symptoms. To rule out any risk of pulmonary complications, he underwent a CT scan at a hospital in Rome, which fortunately came back negative. However, the scan did detect lung inflammation, leading to breathing difficulties for the Pope. Currently, he is receiving intravenous antibiotics to aid his recovery. It is worth noting that Pope Francis lost part of his lung to an infection during his teenage years, making his respiratory health a top priority for his medical team.
As a result of his health issues, Pope Francis was unable to recite the Angelus prayer and blessing from his usual window in the Apostolic Palace on Sunday. Instead, he delivered his message from a chapel in the Casa Santa Marta, the guesthouse where he resides within Vatican City. The faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square watched his address on large screens. During his speech, the Pope explained his absence, citing inflammation of the lungs as the reason.
The climate summit in Dubai, known as COP28, is set to host over 100 world leaders, including King Charles III, President Emmanuel Macron, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Pope Francis has consistently championed climate activism throughout his papacy, urging global leaders to take decisive action against climate change. In 2015, he released the encyclical "Laudato Si," which aimed to propel the Catholic Church into the forefront of the environmental movement. Despite his absence at the summit, the Vatican is exploring alternative means for the Pope and the Holy See to contribute to the ongoing discussions on climate issues.
