Vatican observers are questioning Vatican statements regarding the Pope’s health after a third trip this month was cancelled claiming the Pope was too ill to attend.

The Pope had been scheduled to visit a hospital in Gemelli to conduct a mass on Friday afternoon but the vent was cancelled an hour before the Pope was due to arrive.  The statement on cancellation said the mass was called off due to an “unexpected indisposition”.  All of the Pope’s weekend events are still scheduled and the Vatican says there are “no concerns for the Pope’s health.”

The Pontiff has only one full lung and has a back condition that can make walking painful.  He missed an event earlier this month because of stomach flu and has recently skipped a walking event because of back pain.

However, the Pope has also shown strength that was unexpected, including getting out of his car along the route of a 12 hour trip to Calabria where the weather was unusually hot.

The Vatican says the Pope will continue his very busy schedule and trip to South Korea in August.