Pope Francis health fears surge as he cancels meetings over 'breathing difficulties'

He added that doctors had inserted a cannula to provide antibiotics.

Francis turns 87 next month and has battled ill health for years including losing part of his lung around 50 years.

Bruni's statement stressed: "The Pope’s condition is good and stationary, he has no fever and his respiratory situation is clearly improving."

A papal aide, the Rev. Paolo Braida, read the pope's normal Sunday message, as Francis remained seated next to him.

In a statement, Francis said: "Dear brothers and sisters. Happy Sunday. Today, I cannot appear at the window because I have this problem of an inflammation in the lungs."

Bruni said some "important engagements" were postponed, while internal administrative events, or those easier to attend to, would be fulfilled.

The Pope has cancelled his trip the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai on doctor's orders.

The Holy See Press Office added: "Although the Holy Father's general clinical picture has improved with regard to his flu-like condition and inflammation of the respiratory tract, doctors have asked the Pope not to make the trip planned for the coming days to Dubai for the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change."

On Monday, Francis received the president of Paraguay, Santiago Peña Palacios, at the Vatican as scheduled.

But despite his health scares, he has remained a high-profile voice throughout the Israel-Gaza war.

His Sunday message said: "We pray that they all may be [freed] as rapidly as possible and that more humanitarian aid arrives in Gaza and that they insist on dialogue."

In June this year, Francis had surgery in June to treat a hernia and remove painful scarring from previous operations.

When a reporter asked him how he was when leaving the hospital, he replied: "Still alive."