Pope Francis resumed his activities on Saturday after taking a day off due to fever, the Vatican said, and the sovereign pontiff has several private audiences on his schedule, AFP reports.

Pope Francis, 86, who was hospitalized for bronchitis almost two months ago, has a full calendar of appointments, the Vatican said.

Holy See spokesman Matteo Bruni said on Friday that Pope Francis had canceled his meetings “due to a febrile condition” and general fatigue.

The sovereign pontiff attended eight meetings on Thursday and addressed the clergy, the Italian Episcopal Conference and a group of young people who belong to the educational network Scholas Occurrentes.

Usually the Pope receives his interlocutors – associates, clerics, governors – in the morning, in the Vatican, during official audiences, at which he often delivers speeches, while the afternoon is devoted to work and private audiences.

The Vatican leader is due to celebrate the Pentecost service on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, as well as the “Regina Coeli” prayer at the Vatican.

On Monday, he has a meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

The state of health of Jorge Bergoglio, elected pope in 2013, periodically fuels speculation about the possibility of giving up the pontificate and electing a successor.

He has said several times that he is considering stepping down – like his predecessor Benedict XVI, who died in December – if his health deteriorates, but he recently said that was not the case.

In July 2021, the Pope was hospitalized for several days for major colon surgery. He admitted that he still had “consequences” from the anesthesia, which is why he ruled out knee surgery for now.

In late March, he was hospitalized for three nights in a hospital in Rome after experiencing breathing difficulties. He was treated with antibiotics for bronchitis.

Leaving Gemelli Hospital on April 1, the Pope jokingly told reporters and the faithful in attendance, “I’m still alive.” (Agerpress)