Feb. 26, 2024 05:51 AM EST

Pope Francis Cancels Monday Morning Engagements Due To Mild Flu Symptoms, Vatican Says

Pope Francis appears at the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at The Vatican for the traditional Sunday noon blessing of faithful and pilgrims gathered in the Square for the Angelus prayer, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. Pope Francis had canceled an audience scheduled for Saturday as a precaution after coming down with mild flu, the Vatican press office said in a short statement, without adding further details. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Gregorio Borgia, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pope Francis appears at the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at The Vatican for the traditional Sunday noon blessing of faithful and pilgrims gathered in the Square for the Angelus prayer, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. Pope Francis had canceled an audience scheduled for Saturday as a precaution after coming down with mild flu, the Vatican press office said in a short statement, without adding further details. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis canceled his engagements Monday morning due to persistent but mild flu symptoms, the Vatican press office said in a short statement, adding that the pontiff did not have a fever.

The statement indicated the decision was made as a precautionary measure.

Pope Francis was well enough on Sunday to celebrate his weekly Angelus prayer from the Vatican window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, a day after canceling a public audience because of a mild flu-like condition.

The Vatican calendar has no public audiences scheduled for the Pope on Monday morning, but he may have had other private engagements.

On Saturday, in another brief announcement, the Vatican press office said the 87-year-old pontiff was forced to scrap a planned audience with Roman deacons as a precaution due to a “mild, flu-like condition.”

Over the past few months, Francis had to cancel some activities and one international trip due to his fragile health.

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