(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 30.11.2023). A week after Pope Francis’ delicate state of health led him to cancel his agenda partially, not to pronounce the Angelus on Sunday, November 26, and not go to Dubai, today he himself explained his state of health.
He did so during a private audience to the participants in the Seminar on “Ethics in Health Management,” whom he received on Thursday morning, November 30 in the room adjacent to Paul VI Hall.
“As you see, I am alive, the Pontiff began by saying, who then explained why he did not go to Dubai for the Summit on Climate Change. “The doctor would not let me go to Abu Dabi, Dubai. The reason is that it’s very hot there, and you go from heat to air conditioning. And this, with this bronchial condition [is not convenient]. Pope Francis also said ”Thank God it wasn’t pneumonia. It’s a very acute, infectious bronchitis. I no longer have fever, but I’m still on antibiotics and things like that.”
Given that those who were in the Vatican were professionals in the health realm, the Holy Father continued: “Taking care of your health, health has a kind of opposite, it is strong and fragile. One is as strong as his health, how it holds up, but it is also fragile. And, poorly cared fo, health gives way to fragility. I like preventive medicine very much, because it prevents events before they happen. I thank you for what you do. Not only looking for medical, pharmacological solutions, but also caring for health, that is, thinking about the good of health, and how to preserve that good. Not only to cure, but to preserve.”
The audience ended with the Pope’s words of gratitude and a personal greeting as follows: “I thank you for coming, and forgive me for not being able to talk any more, but I don’t have the energy. So, what I would like to do is to greet you, so, if we make it quick, come one by one, come closer. Forgive me if I remain seated and greet you, one by one.
