Pope Francis, who is turning eighty-eight (88) years old and has been suffering from a severe cold, will lead the regular Angelus prayer at his residence as a precautionary measure, the Vatican said in a statement on Saturday.
The decision was taken due to the cold weather in Rome and the pope's commitments in the coming Christmas week, it added.
Francis, who has been pope since 2013, complained of the effects of his cold during an audience on Friday, but by early Saturday he was well enough to deliver his annual Christmas address to cardinals.
The Pope will give the Angelus on Sunday from the Vatican church of Santa Marta where he lives, rather than speaking to pilgrims from the window overlooking St. Peter's Square.
Francis has suffered from poor health in recent years. At the age of 21, Jorge Bergoglio then developed pleurisy and had part of one of his lungs removed from his home in Argentina.
He has suffered from the flu and related complications several times since early 2023, canceling a planned trip to the COP28 climate meeting in Dubai last year due to the effects of the flu and pneumonia.
He released Angelus from Santa Marta last December as he recovered from the flu.
The coming days are expected to be more intense because in addition to the usual Christmas services, the pope will also mark the beginning of the Holy Year or Jubilee on Christmas Eve, December 24.
The Pope is scheduled to open the bronze door of the Basilica of St.
These Holy Years are normally held every 25 years and are expected to attract millions more visitors to the Vatican and Rome.