Pope Francis cancelled his audience on Monday due to a “mild flu-like condition” days before his trip to Belgium and Luxembourg, the Vatican said.
A Vatican statement called the move a “precautionary measure.”
The Pope returned about a week ago from his longest overseas tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania. He is due to visit Belgium and Luxembourg later this week.
The Holy See press office said in a statement that Francis has a “flu-like condition.” Francis battled acute bronchitis and recurring bouts of flu for much of last winter, causing him to have to cancel an early trip to Dubai to attend a UN climate conference.
In Belgium, Francis is due to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the country’s main Catholic universities and address Belgians appalled by years of revelations of clergy sexual abuse and cover-ups.
