However, the Vatican has said the pontiff does not have pneumonia or fever.

The pope himself revealed on Sunday that he had been unwell and had been forced to cancel his weekly window appointment to greet people in St Peter's Square.

Instead, he gave his blessing from the chapel of the hotel on Vatican grounds where he lives.

The Vatican said in a written statement on Monday that an inflammation was causing some respiratory difficulties for Francis, whose 87th birthday is next month.

"The condition of the pope is good and stationary, he doesn't have a fever, and the respiratory situation is in clear improvement," the statement said.

A CT scan, which the pope underwent on Saturday afternoon at a Rome hospital, ruled out pneumonia.

To aid the pope's recovery, "some important commitments expected for the next days have been postponed so he can dedicate the time and desired energy" to his recovery, the statement added.

It is not clear what appointments were being put off, but it appeared he was keeping his private audience with the president of Paraguay.

In televised remarks on Sunday, the pope indicated he is going ahead with a three-day trip to the United Arab Emirates on 1 December to deliver a speech on climate change at the upcoming United Nations COP28 talks.

When he gave his blessing on Sunday, a bandage, holding in place a cannula for intravenous treatment, was clearly visible on his right hand.