This footage was filmed and produced 13 November 2023.

Pope Francis presided over his weekly audience Wednesday despite a flu that forced him to cancel his trip to COP28 in Dubai, and asked an aide to read instead of him.

The 86-year-old Argentine pontiff appeared tired and short of breath before the audience at the Vatican, to which he said: "with this flu, I'm still not well".

Faced with the flu since the weekend, and following the advice of his doctors, Francis was forced on Tuesday to cancel his trip to the annual climate summit, COP28, which this year is being held in Dubai.

The pontiff, who in his youth underwent a partial lung ablation, was scheduled to give a speech on Saturday, as part of a stay in the United Arab Emirates initially scheduled from Friday to Sunday.

At the end of Wednesday's audience, Francis called for an end to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, in a subdued voice. He seemed more animated, however, as he attended a circus show with acrobats.

SHOTLIST:
1. Various from the Vatican (Nov 13, 2023);
2. Various from Pope Francis (Dec 8, 2020);
3. Various from the Vatican (Nov 13, 2023).