Pope Francis announced on Sunday that he will travel to a climate conference later this week, despite battling an illness in recent days.

Francis told a crowd assembled at the traditional noon blessing in Vatican City that he would be attending the COP28 conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, later this week. However, he joined the blessing by video rather than via a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, according to the Associated Press, and revealed his diagnosis.

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“Brothers and sisters, happy Sunday. Today I cannot appear at the window because I have this problem of inflammation of the lungs,’’ Francis said per the outlet.

He went to Rome’s Gemelli hospital for tests on Saturday and tested negative for any respiratory problems, with the Vatican saying the pontiff was battling a mild flu.

Francis, 86, has had several health battles in recent years, including a weeklong hospital stay after a hernia surgery in June. The recovery from the surgery earlier this year caused him to limit public appearances in the weeks following the procedure.

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Amid health concerns last year which limited his mobility due to a knee injury, Francis denied rumors he would resign as head of the Catholic Church but did not rule out resigning if he were unable to perform his duties.

Francis is the oldest-reigning pope in more than 100 years, since Pope Leo XIII died in 1903 at the age of 93.