Pope cancels trip to Dubai for climate conference due to illness More hostages in Gaza about to be released, Blinken wants to go to Israel again – the night update

Pope Francis has canceled his trip to Dubai for the World Climate Conference next weekend due to a respiratory illness. Although the head of the Catholic Church’s health has improved, his doctors have asked him not to make the three-day trip, Holy See spokesman Matteo Bruni said Tuesday evening. “Pope Francis has accepted the doctors’ request with great regret and the trip is therefore cancelled,” Bruni continued.

According to the Vatican, the 86-year-old pope has been struggling with mild flu and infections in the lungs and airways since last weekend. The Argentinian has already had to cancel appointments and held the traditional Angelus prayer from his home and had large parts of his speech read by a priest. Francis appeared exhausted, was coughing and had to be treated with intravenous antibiotics.

The Pope would participate in a world climate conference for the first time. From Friday to Sunday he wanted to travel to the Arab Emirate of Dubai for the COP28 summit. It was initially unclear whether Francis would be connected via video for his planned speech or what the exact plans were for this.

Concern about the pope is once again high among Catholics worldwide. Francis will be 87 years old in December. He has been suffering from health problems for some time now. This year he has already been treated in a clinic twice. Firstly because of pneumonia. He later had to undergo open abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. (sda/dpa)