Pope Francis asks aide to read out his speech

STORY: The 87-year-old Francis' recent bout with flu and bronchitis began on Feb. 24 when he was forced to cancel meetings for several days.

For much of the past three weeks, aides read his addresses for him after he made brief introductions explaining that he was tired.

On Feb. 28 Francis went to a hospital near the Vatican for checks that medical sources said included a CT scan.

As a young man in his native Argentina, Francis had part of a lung removed.