The Pope asks an aide to read a letter aloud to him, raising further concerns about his health

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis, who was Suffering from influenzaHe asked an aide to read his prepared speech at a conference at the Vatican on Friday, saying he had not yet fully recovered from a recent illness that raised concerns about his ability to continue leading the Roman Catholic Church.

The 87-year-old Supreme Pontiff He was transferred to the Roman Hospital On Wednesday for a diagnostic test after having to cancel some plenary sessions, he handed over his letter to his aide Mons. Filippo Chiampanelli.

“I still have a cold and feel tired after reading for a while,” he said. Pope Francis, who has been hospitalized three times since becoming pope in 2013, began using a wheelchair and a walking stick after developing knee problems last year.

In his surprise speech at the opening of the two-day conference, titled “The Image of God between Man and Woman – for an Anthropology of Vocations,” he criticized what he called “gender ideology” and described it as “the ugliest danger.”

“It is very important that this meeting takes place, this meeting between men and women,” he told the audience.

“Because the ugliest danger today is gender ideology… I have asked for studies to be conducted on this ugly ideology of our time, which eliminates differences and makes everything the same. He said that abolishing difference is abolishing humanity.

The Pope had canceled his appointments last Saturday and Monday due to a persistent but mild flu, but he appeared as usual to bless Sunday from a window overlooking St. Peter's Square.

Last week, Francis coughed repeatedly while presiding over Ash Wednesday mass in a Roman church, and chose not to participate in the traditional procession that opens the Lenten season in the church.

Over the past few months, Francis has had to cancel some activities and one international trip due to his availability Fragile healthWhich recently raised concerns about his ability to continue leading the Catholic Church.

The Argentine pope had part of his lung removed when he was young due to a respiratory infection, and in 2021 part of his colon was removed due to an intestinal infection. He has been using a wheelchair and cane since last year due to pulled knee ligaments and a small knee fracture that made walking and standing difficult.