Aide reads speech for unwell Pope Francis

With a soft voice, barely above a whisper, Francis told the public that “since I am not well”, his reading of his speech would not sound “pretty”

Pope Francis coughed as he reads his message (AP)

The Pope has asked an aide to read a speech for him due to illness at his weekly audience with the public in the Vatican, a day after cancelling an overseas trip.

Francis, who will turn 87 on December 17 and had part of one lung removed as a young man, coughed near the end of the hour-long audience in a Vatican auditorium as he made some final comments, then stood up from his chair on the stage to give his blessing.