Sawt Falasteen - Grounded by flu, Pope urges COP28 to reject 'vested interests'

"May participants in COP28 be strategists who focus on the common good and the future of their children, rather than the vested interests of certain countries or businesses," he said in a statement posted in English on X, formerly Twitter, as the Dubai conference opened.

"May they demonstrate the nobility of politics and not its shame," the 86-year-old added.

Francis, who has made protecting the environment a cornerstone of his 10-year papacy, had hoped to become the first pontiff to attend the UN event since the process began in 1995.

But on Tuesday he was forced to cancel the weekend trip on the advice of his doctors.

He still hopes to participate in the conference in some form, the Vatican said, without saying how.

At an audience earlier Thursday at the Vatican, Francis said he had bronchitis but brushed off concerns it was more serious.

"As you can see, I am alive," he joked, according to an official transcript.

"The doctor didn't let me go to Dubai because it's very hot there and you go from the heat to air conditioning. And when you have bronchitis..."

- Breathless -

"I thank God it wasn't pneumonia. It's very acute infectious bronchitis," the Argentine pope said in Spanish.

The Vatican said he was on antibiotics for a lung inflammation that has caused him breathing difficulties but added in an update on Wednesday that he did not have a fever.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin will lead the Holy See's team at the climate talks.

Francis, who turns 87 next month, has suffered a series of health issues in recent years, from knee and hip pain to an inflamed colon and most recently hernia surgery in June.

He was hospitalised for three nights in March with bronchitis, which was cured with antibiotics.

On Saturday, he cancelled events due to what the Vatican called "light flu symptoms".

It said that a CT scan had ruled out "risks of pulmonary complications".

The pope was forced to recite the traditional Angelus prayer on Sunday from his residence rather than overlooking Saint Peter's Square.

On Wednesday, Francis presided over his weekly audience at the Vatican but asked an aide to deliver his reading for him.

When he did speak, he sounded breathless. "I'm still not well with this flu," he said.

A.Suleiman--SF-PST