‘Tired’ Pope stirs concern

POPE FRANCIS had a busy Saturday of audiences amid new health concerns following his cancellation of a planned outing.

The 77-year-old Francis seemed tired but smiled frequently during a shorter-than-usual, 10-minute private audience with the president of Madagascar.

But the Pope delivered a speech without problem to a visiting Orthodox delegation, and he had two other meetings with Vatican cardinals.

At the last minute, Francis skipped a visit Friday to a Rome hospital, the third time this month he has canceled or scaled back an event due to fatigue or illness. The Vatican said he had suffered an “unexpected indisposition,” but there were no concerns for his health.