A giant screen broadcasts Pope Francis delivering his blessing during the Angelus noon prayer, from the chapel of the hotel at the Vatican grounds where he lives, Nov 26, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis, who is suffering from a lung inflammation, is in "good and stable" condition, receiving antibiotic therapy intravenously, and will limit his activities for the next few days in order to conserve his strength, the Vatican said on Monday.

Spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement that a CT scan at a Rome hospital on Saturday excluded pneumonia but had detected inflammation in his lungs that caused breathing difficulties.

"The pope's condition is good and stable, he does not have a fever and his respiratory condition is decidedly improving," Bruni said.

On Sunday, the 86-year-old pope appeared seated in the chapel of his residence instead of in St. Peter's Square while an aide read the pontiff's message

"To facilitate the pope's recovery, some important engagements that were scheduled for these days have been postponed so that he can dedicate his time and energy (to recovery)".

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Bruni added that Francis would continue to carry out "easier", institutional tasks, his condition permitting.

One part of one of the pope's lungs was removed when Francis was a young man in his native Argentina.

On Sunday, the 86-year-old pope appeared seated in the chapel of his residence instead of in St. Peter's Square while an aide read the pontiff's message.

The pope, wearing his traditional white robes, remained seated next to the aide during the reading. When he raised his right hand a bandage holding an IV tube used to administer the antibiotics was visible.

"Dear brothers and sisters. Happy Sunday. Today, I cannot appear at the window because I have this problem of an inflammation in the lungs," Francis said.

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Francis introduced the priest, Father Paolo Braida, who went on to read the pope's Sunday message based on the Gospel. Francis coughed several times during the reading.

The pope delivered a blessing and Braida read the rest of message, including appeals for peace in Ukraine, thanks for the release of some hostages in Gaza and confirmation of the pope's intention to travel to Dubai on Friday to attend the UN climate change conference.

A giant screen broadcasts Pope Francis talking to the faithful during the Angelus noon prayer, from the chapel of the hotel at the Vatican grounds where he lives, Nov 26, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

The Vatican’s Monday statement did not mention the Dubai trip, indicating that it was still on.

Francis ended with his traditional closing remarks: "I wish everyone a good Sunday. Please do not forget to pray for me. Have a good lunch and see you next time."

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The event was broadcast on giant screens to the crowds gathered in the square.

"We were under the window where he was supposed to appear but then he didn't show up," said tourist Francesco Sinisgalli from Potenza in southern Italy. "I am a bit (disappointed) but in my soul he is always there."

Staying in the residence spared the pope from going outside for the short journey to the Apostolic Palace on what was a particularly cold Rome morning for the end of November.

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He would have had to get in a car, be driven to a courtyard and take an elevator to the top floor of the palace to reach the window overlooking St. Peter's Square.

Earlier this month Francis skipped reading a prepared speech for a meeting with European rabbis because he had a cold, but he appeared to be in good health during a meeting with children hours later that day.

In June he had surgery on an abdominal hernia, spending nine days in hospital. He appears to have recovered fully from that operation.