Pope Francis was unable to ride in the papal car despite the help of his aides

Pope Francis once again asked an aide to read his speech and was unable to ride the pontiff on Wednesday, as breathing and movement problems continue to affect him.

The 87-year-old Pope held his weekly session in St. Peter's Square outdoors for the first time this year, despite the cold. But again, it was an acolyte who read the Catechism, as has happened in recent days.

Last Wednesday, Francisco went to the hospital to undergo unspecified diagnostic tests, the results of which were not published. In recent months, he has suffered from influenza and bronchitis, according to what the Vatican and the Argentine Pope himself said.

At the end of last year, Francisco underwent a test that ruled out pneumonia, but he still had to cancel his trip to the Persian Gulf due to severe infectious bronchitis.

The Pope also suffers from ligamentitis, which, as of 2022, has forced him to use a wheelchair. But he is usually able to walk a little with the help of a cane or walker, after his assistants help him get back on his feet.

But on Wednesday, Francis was unable to get into the papal car at the end of his audience, and could not even hold on to the railing. His assistants quickly brought him the wheelchair and the Pope sat down. He waved to the crowd before being led out of the arena.

When Jorge Bergoglio was a young man, he had part of his lung removed after suffering a respiratory infection, and he often speaks quietly, even when he is not sick. In 2021, he had part of his colon removed and last year underwent surgery to repair an abdominal hernia and remove intestinal scar tissue.