Vatican

Pope skips speech, blaming breathing difficulties after surgery

cde.news desk 22 June 2023, 13:00 · 1 min read

epa10684910 Flowers and candles for Pope Francis at the foot of the statue of John Paul II in the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital where Pope Francis underwent his surgery, in Rome, Italy, 11 June 2023. Faithful gathered at the hospital as Pope Francis will say the Angelus prayer "privately" at the clinic and anyone can join in spiritually, said Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni. EPA-EFE/RICCARDO ANTIMIANI

VATICAN CITY, June 22 (Reuters) – Pope Francis skipped reading a planned speech at a conference on Thursday, saying he still had breathing problems following a hernia operation this month.

“I am still under the effects of anaesthesia, my breathing is not good,” Francis told a meeting of the Catholic Oriental Church, saying delegates would instead receive a text of the speech.

Asked by a well-wisher how he felt, the 86-year-old pope replied: “I’m still alive.”

The pope had surgery on June 7 to repair an abdominal hernia. He spent nine days in hospital recovering and has had a busy schedule since returning to the Vatican last Friday, including meeting the presidents of Cuba and Brazil.

He had eight events on his schedule for Thursday.