Pope Francis skips traditional greeting on Rome to Luxembourg flight
During the Thursday flight from Rome to Luxembourg, Pope Francis did not walk through the plane aisle as usual to personally greet each media envoy. The director of the Holy See Press Office stated that this was "not the first time" such an event had occurred.
Pope Francis traveled from Rome to Luxembourg on Thursday morning, marking the beginning of his 46th foreign visit, during which he will also visit Belgium.
"I can't make it through"
He seemed somewhat tired when he stood before the media envoys after takeoff. "Thank you for your service. I am at your disposal," he said. Pointing to the narrow aisle between the rows of seats, he added, "I can't make it through."
"I greet you from here," he conveyed, then returned to his seat.
The Holy See Press Office director, Matteo Bruni, told the journalists on board that it was not the first time the 87-year-old pope did not come to greet the journalists. He also noted that the flight to Luxembourg was short.
The situation caused some concern among the journalists because Francis managed to greet them during an even shorter flight to Marseille, France, a year ago.
On Monday, Francis canceled the day's scheduled audiences, which the Vatican explained as "a mild flu" condition in the pope.
After an eight-hour visit to Luxembourg on Thursday, the pope will arrive in Brussels in the evening and remain until Sunday.
