Pope Francis, 87, pulls out of speech as bout of bronchitis meant he was too unwell to read it

• The Pope asked an aide to read his speech because he has bronchitis and flu

Pope Francis pulled out a speech on Saturday because a bout of bronchitis meant he was too unwell to read it.

The Pope, who has been suffering from flu, delegated his speech to an aide. He was meant to be speaking to the Vatican magistrates at the opening ceremony of the judicial year of the Vatican tribunal.

A noticeably hoarse-sounding Pope Francis said: ‘I have prepared a speech but as you can see I am unable to read it because of bronchitis. I have asked Monsignor (Filippo) Ciampanelli to read it for me.’

However, the Pope was later able to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during an audience at the Vatican. The meeting was the pairs first face-to-face private meeting since Mr Scholz became Chancellor in 2021.

According to DW, a German broadcaster, Pope Francis and Mr Scholz spoke for about 30 minutes discussing topics such as the war in the Middle East and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Pope Francis, 87, arrived at the opening ceremony of the judicial year of the Vatican tribunal in a wheelchair. He has been battling flu and bronchitis  recently and announced with noticeably hoarse-sounding voice had asked an aide to read his speech

Pope Francis has had a number of health issues in recent years. Last week,he cancelled meetings because he had flu. When asked about his fragile health in a recent TV interview, Pope Francis quipped he was ‘still alive, you know’

However, the Pope was well enough to hold a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (pictured left) after the speech. The meeting was the pairs first face-to-face private meeting since Mr Scholz became Chancellor in 2021

Mr Scholz said it was an ‘important conversation at a time when it crucial for us to look to the future with a clear view and have clear principles.’

Francis has had a number of health issues recently. Last week,he cancelled meetings because he had flu and when asked about his fragile health in a recent TV interview, Pope Francis quipped he was ‘still alive, you know.’

On Wednesday he made a brief trip to a Roman hospital for a check up after he missed reading at his weekly audience, saying he had ‘a bit of cold’.

In January, he was unable to complete a speech owing to ‘a touch of bronchitis’. Later that month he said he was doing better despite ‘some aches and pains’.

The pope was forced to cancel a planned trip to a COP28 climate meeting in Dubai at the start of December because of the effects of influenza and lung inflammation.

Despite not being able to attend in-person his speech was given by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State. He said: ‘Destruction of the environment is an offence against God, a sin . . . that greatly endangers all human beings, especially the most vulnerable in our midst and threatens to unleash a conflict between generations.’

Much of the Pope’s issues with his health stem from an operation to remove part of his lungs when he was younger and still in his native Argentina.

Since his election in 2013, Francis has shunned the crimson, fur-trimmed ‘mozzetta’, or cape, and also does not wear a gold cross but has kept around his neck the same faded silver-plated one he used as archbishop of Buenos Aires.

He also has not used the plush red ‘shoes of the fisherman’ used by his predecessors. He has kept the same simple black shoes he always used and wears a plastic watch, giving others away so they could be auctioned off for charity.

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