Pope Francis is battling a cold again – symptoms during audience!

Pope Francis is battling a cold again – symptoms during audience!

Vatican City, February 5, 2025 – Pope Francis is once again struggling with the effects of a severe cold. During his weekly general audience on Wednesday, the 88-year-old church leader apologized and said: "I would like to apologize because with this bad cold it is difficult for me to speak." In order to still give the necessary speech, he handed it over to an employee: “He will read it better than me.” These health challenges are not new for the Pope, who regularly battles persistent respiratory illnesses in the winter months, as kathpress.at reported. An example of this was his decision not to give an important speech to the diplomatic corps at the beginning of January.

Despite these health problems, the Pope has not backed down and is maintaining an extremely busy work schedule. Loud katholisch.de During his last trip to Africa, he completed an impressive 30 hours of flying time and 19,000 kilometers in six days. The week was filled with 18 speeches, several large masses and important meetings with heads of state and religious representatives. At 82 and in the seventh year of his pontificate, Jorge Mario Bergoglio nevertheless remains tirelessly active, often with a strict daily routine that includes rising early and going to bed early. He relies on discipline in order to protect his health and cope with his immense workload. The first hours of the day are reserved for both prayer and meetings with guests.

Francis' program is perceived as slightly less strenuous compared to previous trips, but the strain on his body should not be underestimated. His habit of refusing vacation raises concerns from doctors, who issue warnings to pay attention to his health. His colleagues meticulously plan his audiences and meetings with high-ranking politicians, which shows that, despite the considerable burden, the Pope strives to fulfill his duties as head of the Catholic Church and maintain contact with his subjects, even if he often has to pay attention to his energy reserves.