Valentina di Giorgio
(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 11.26.2023).- There were 12,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square at noon on Sunday, November 26. Everyone was expecting to see the Pope appear at the small window of the papal apartment overlooking the Square, as is customary every Sunday when the Pontiff is in Rome. It is the tradition of the Sunday Angelus, which is usually preceded by a brief reflection on the Gospel and some greetings after the Marian prayer. Noon arrived, and instead of appearing at the window, Pope Francis’s image appeared on the large screens in the square where all those people were gathered.
«Today, I cannot come to the window because I have this problem of inflammation in the lungs,» the Pope began. He added, «It will be Bishop Braida who will read the reflection; he knows them very well because he is the one who does them, and he always does them so well! Thank you very much for your presence.»
This confirmed that the Pope is not in good health. The day before, on Saturday, November 25, the Holy See Press Office announced the cancellation of the Pope’s entire schedule (including an audience with the President of Guinea-Bissau). On the afternoon of that same Saturday, they would send a brief note to the media saying, «In the early afternoon, Pope Francis underwent a CT scan at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome to rule out the risk of pulmonary complications. The test was negative, and the Pope returned to Casa Santa Marta.» On this Sunday, a contradiction was evident: that of the Press Office and the one given by Pope Francis about his own health.
During the projection of the Angelus on this Sunday, which took place from the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, the Pope could be seen with an adhesive bandage on his right hand. The Pope’s health status is relevant, considering that in his short-term agenda, he is scheduled to travel to Dubai on Friday, December 1.
