Pope Francis said he was still notwell enough to read out his lesson during his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square on Wednesday after suffering flu-like symptoms for over a week and a half.
The Argentine pontiff had had an aide read out his address as he has at several recent audiences due to the illness.
"Dear brothers and sisters, I still have a cold and I cannot read out the catechism well," the pope said.
"My aide will read it".
Despite not reading the lesson, the pope appeared in good shape and did a few laps of the square in an open-top Jeep with some children.
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