Pope Francis cancels trip to global climate summit, Vatican cites flu, respiratory issues

Pope Francis on Tuesday canceled a trip to a global climate conference in Dubai because of flu-like condition and respiratory problems. 

The announcement was made by the Holy See Press Office, which said the pope made his decision based on doctor's orders, though he also appears to be improving.  

The United Nations-backed summit is set to begin later this week and will last two weeks.

"Although the Holy Father's general clinical picture has improved with regard to his flu-like condition and inflammation of the respiratory tract, doctors have asked the Pope not to make the trip planned for the coming days to Dubai for the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change," Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See Press Office, said in a statement obtained to ABC News.