Pope Francis will not go to the major climate conference COP 28 in Dubai, which starts on Thursday. He canceled the order on the advice of his doctors. The Pope has been suffering from influenza and a respiratory infection for a few days.

Earlier in the day, the Vatican announced that the planned three-day visit to Dubai would go ahead, but a different decision has now been made. The Pope is expected to address conference participants on Saturday. Meetings with several government leaders are also planned.

The Vatican says the Pope is improving, but his doctors have asked him to cancel the trip. Francis says he regrets he can’t come. He hopes to be able to contribute to the discussions remotely.

It was announced last Saturday that the Pope was ill. He canceled all his appointments because of the flu. A CT scan was performed at the hospital. Initially it was reported to be nothing unusual, but it later turned out to be a respiratory infection.

On Sunday, Pope Francis largely left the reading of his Sunday message to his aide. Yesterday he received the new President of Paraguay, Palacios, and today he spoke with the Spanish bishops in the Vatican.

The 86-year-old Pope is in fragile health. In April, he was hospitalized for three days due to bronchitis. Last year he underwent surgery on his abdominal wall due to diverticulitis. This causes swelling in the wall of the large intestine, which sometimes leads to inflammation.

At a young age, part of his lung was removed.