Raspy-voiced Pope skips homily for Palm Sunday, but manages Angelus cruxnow.com

Speaking aloud briefly and in a raspy voice, and skipping his prepared homily altogether, a clearly fatigued Pope Francis presided over the traditional Palm Sunday Mass today, a liturgy that opens the holiest period on the annual Christian calendar.

Later, the pontiff managed to deliver his traditional Angelus message at the conclusion of the Mass in his own voice, but appeared at times to be struggling to catch his breath.

The 87-year-old pontiff has been struggling for weeks from difficulties in breathing and speaking, related to what the Vatican has described variously as colds, the flu, and bronchitis, and has often asked aides to read his prepared texts aloud at various public events…

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