Vatican cancels pope's weekend events due to 'complex' infection

Pope Francis, who was spending his fifth day in hospital for what doctors described as a "complex" respiratory infection, will not take part in this weekend's Holy Year events, the Vatican said yesterday.

The 88-year-old pontiff has been suffering from a respiratory infection for more than a week and was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on February 14.

All public events on the pope's calendar were cancelled through Sunday, the Vatican said.

Vatican sources said the pontiff was not on a ventilator and was breathing on his own.

The pope had been due to lead several events over the weekend for the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, which runs through to next January.

It is a special time of pardon and forgiveness for Catholics and the Vatican expects 32 million tourists to visit Rome throughout the year, including for a range of special audiences with Francis.

Reuters