VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope Francis is once again canceling public appearances due to nerve pain.
Francisco will not participate in three events in the coming days “due to a recurrence of sciatica,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement on Saturday.
The 84-year-old pope will proceed with the Angelus blessing on Saturday, delivered to the Apostolic Library instead of a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square due to the resurgence of the virus. But he will not celebrate Mass at the Vatican Basilica on Sunday or an evening prayer planned at St. Paul’s Basilica to end a week of prayer, and a meeting with the diplomatic corps of the Holy See scheduled for Monday will be rescheduled, the Vatican said .
Nervous pain also forced the pope to skip New Year’s ceremonies at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Francis’ sciatica outbreak raises questions about his planned March 3-8 trip to Iraq, a visit that some have questioned due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Papal trips are exhausting in any circumstances, with many appointments every day, long masses and reception lines and multiple transfers by car and plane.
Francis has spoken openly about his sciatica in the past. It is a form of pain in the lower part of the body caused by compression or irritation in the nerve roots or in the sciatic nerve, which extends from the lower part of the spine to the thigh.