Pope has a cold and will skip outdoor Sunday prayer ahead of a busy week

Pope Francis is suffering from a cold and will deliver his Sunday blessing from indoors. The Vatican cited the cold temperatures outside and Francis’ busy week ahead. The pope this week is due to inaugurate his big Holy Year and preside over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations and travel to Rome’s main prison to inaugurate the Jubilee there.Francis turned 88 this past week. He has long suffered bouts of bronchitis, especially in winter, that in 2023 landed him in the hospital to receive antibiotics. He had part of one lung removed as a young man and frequently seems out of breath, especially after walking or exerting himself.