The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis will proceed with his planned trip to Belgium and Luxembourg later this week, despite cancelling his scheduled audiences on Monday 23rd September due to a "slight flu-like state".

Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni shared the update with reporters ahead of a Vatican briefing on the upcoming trip's details and announced that the pope's cancellations were a "precautionary" measure.

According to The Mail Online, Pope Francis is set to visit Luxembourg on Thursday 26th September, followed by a visit to Belgium, where he will conclude with a Sunday Mass in Brussels.

The 87-year-old pontiff, who has been using a wheelchair for two years, has faced multiple health challenges, including the removal of part of one lung due to a respiratory infection when he was younger.

He has faced health issues including bronchitis and influenza over the past year.

After returning from an 11-day tour through four Asian nations on 13th September, his longest trip as pope, he has since had numerous meetings with visiting bishops and Vatican officials, as well as a large gathering on Friday 20th September with members of popular movements.

During his trip to Belgium, Francis will commemorate the 600th anniversary of the country’s main Catholic universities and address the ongoing clergy sexual abuse crisis that has shaken the Belgian Catholic community for years.

Upon returning from Belgium, Francis will preside over a three-week synod, where bishops will engage in in-depth discussions on the future of the Church.