Pope to skip outdoor Sunday prayer after catching cold days ahead of Christmas Eve, Day Masses

The Vatican announced on Saturday that Pope Francis has contracted a cold and will be skipping his usual outdoor Sunday prayer. Instead, the 88-year-old pontiff will give the blessing indoors from his residence at the chapel of the Vatican’s Santa Marta quarters, just days before his Christmas Eve and Day Masses. Citing chilly weather and the pope’s busy schedule during Christmas week as reasons for the change in venue, this decision marks a departure from the pope’s typical address to the public from the window of St. Peter’s Basilica overlooking St. Peter’s Square on Sundays.

Pope Francis, who sounded congested during his annual Christmas greeting to Vatican bureaucrats on Saturday, has a history of respiratory issues. In his 20s, he developed pleurisy and had to undergo surgery to have part of his lungs removed in his native Argentina. Last year, he missed a climate change meeting in Dubai due to the flu and lung inflammation, and he was also hospitalized for bronchitis.

As the Christmas season approaches, the pope’s health concerns have raised some eyebrows, especially with the upcoming Vatican Holy Year set to begin on Christmas Eve. Approximately 32 million pilgrims are expected to visit Rome throughout 2025 for this special occasion. The pope will kick off the Holy Year by opening the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve, followed by a visit to Rome’s main prison on Dec. 26 to mark the start of the Holy Year there.

The Holy Year, also known as the Jubilee, is a significant event in the Catholic Church, typically held every 25 years. With Pope Francis at the helm, this year’s celebration promises to be a memorable and spiritually enriching experience for believers worldwide.

In other news, President Biden is scheduled to visit Vatican City next month for a meeting with Pope Francis, as part of his final overseas trip before the end of the year. This meeting underscores the importance of the relationship between the United States and the Vatican, as both leaders discuss key issues affecting the global community.

As we await further updates on the pope’s health and the Vatican’s Holy Year celebrations, let us keep Pope Francis in our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery and a successful start to the special year ahead.

[The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.]