Pope Francis, 86, is given antibiotics intravenously to treat lung inflammation after suffering breathing difficulties and will limit his activities in latest episode of poor health

• The 86-year-old pontiff has suffered a string of health issues in recent years

Pope Francis is receiving antibiotics intravenously to treat a lung inflammation and will scale back some appointments in his latest episode of poor health.

Francis, 86, revealed on Sunday that he was suffering from the inflammation problem, explaining why he did not keep his weekly window appointment to greet people in St Peter’s Square.

Instead, he gave his blessing from the chapel of the hotel on Vatican grounds where he lives.

Vatican press office director, Matteo Bruni, said in a written statement on Monday that the inflammation was causing some respiratory difficulties for Francis, whose birthday is next month.

‘The condition of the Pope is good and stationary, he doesn’t have a fever, and the respiratory situation is in clear improvement,’ Bruni said.

Pope Francis giving the Angelus prayer from the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, at the Vatican City on Sunday. An IV drip can be seen on his right hand

‘To facilitate the pope’s recovery, some important engagements that were scheduled for these days have been postponed so that he can dedicate his time and energy (to recovery)’.

Bruni added that Francis would continue to carry out ‘easier’, institutional tasks, his condition permitting.

READ MORE: How Pope Francis has battled health problems over the years

A wheelchair-bound Pope Francis pictured at the Vatican, on May 5, 2022

The Vatican later said the pope went ahead with a planned audience for the president of Paraguay, Santiago Peña Palacios, at the Vatican guest house where the pope lives in a suite of rooms. 

Audiences for heads of state normally take place in the Apostolic Palace, a separate building on the Vatican grounds

One part of one of the pope’s lungs was removed when Francis was a young man in his native Argentina.

Francis is due to travel to Dubai on Friday to attend the U.N. climate change conference. Bruni’s statement did not mention the trip, apparently indicating that it was still on.

For his weekly blessing and message on Sunday, Francis appeared seated in the chapel of his residence instead of in St. Peter’s Square, while an aide read the pontiff’s message.

When he raised his right hand a bandage holding an IV tube used to administer the antibiotics was visible.

Earlier this month Francis skipped reading a prepared speech for a meeting with European rabbis because he had a cold, but he appeared to be in good health during a meeting with children hours later that day.

In June he had surgery on an abdominal hernia, spending nine days in hospital. He appears to have recovered fully from that operation.

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