Pope Francis has decided to cancel three upcoming appearances after a flare-up of nerve pain in his back, the Vatican said.
The 84-year-old will still continue with the Angelus blessing on Sunday afternoon, but he will not deliver the Mass or the evening prayer at St. Paul’s Basilica. A meeting with the diplomatic corps on Monday at the Holy See will also be rescheduled.
The three portfolios will not be attended by the pope “due to the recurrence of sciatica,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Saturday night.
Sciatica, a form of pain caused by something that presses on the nerve, can affect a person’s lower back to the legs. It is often caused by a sliding disc in the spine.
This is not the first time Francis has canceled his appearance due to nerve pain – he was forced to skip New Year’s ceremonies a few weeks ago due to a flare-up, which caused concern about an upcoming international trip.
The pope is due to visit Iraq between March 3 and 8 – but such visits are by no means tiring, with many appointments each day, coupled with long misses and reception lines, and multiple car and plane transfers.
There were also questions about the journey regarding the condition of the coronavirus pandemic.