Pope again misses public event due to illness

June 27, 2014

Pope Francis abruptly cancelled a scheduled appearance at the Gemelli hospital on Thursday evening, June 26, with the Vatican explaining that the Pontiff had suffered “an unexpected indisposition.”

The sudden cancellation of a papal appearance was the 3rd such incident in less than a month, and provoked a new round of speculation about the Pope’s health. But the Holy Father resumed his normal activities on Friday morning, celebrating morning Mass at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, showing no signs of illness.

The Pope had been expected at the Gemelli hospital to celebrate Mass and to meet with patients and staff members. The Gemelli hospital—made famous to the world as the institution where Pope John Paul II was taken after he was wounded in an assassination attempt, and again on several occasions during his final illness-- is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Vatican officials did not announce that the June 26 visit would be cancelled until after Pope Francis had been scheduled to arrive at the hospital. No information was provided about the nature of the Pope’s apparently sudden illness.

Twice in recent weeks the Pope has cleared events from his public schedule in order to recuperate from what the Vatican has described as minor ailments, and to preserve his strength for other public events. Nevertheless the Pontiff has continued to keep a busy schedule, showing no signs of any major health problem.

 

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Further information:

• Pope Francis calls off his visit to Rome's 'Gemelli Hospital' (Vatican Radio)
• Pope Francis again cancels event, citing ailment (AP)