POPE Francis was dealt a blow yesterday — as the wind sent his hat flying.

       The 87-year-old was arriving on his pope-mobile at St Peter’s Square in Vatican City when a gust whipped up.

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       Pope Francis tried to catch his cap as wind blew it away Credit: AP 2

       The gaff occurred while the pontiff arrived for his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican Credit: AP

       The bamboozled pontiff attempted to cling on to his skull cap, called a Zucchetto, before it was blown back out of reach.

       Hats off for trying though.

       The pontiff - who turned 87 in December 2023 - has vowed not to resign just months after spending nine days in hospital for a hernia operation.

       He said in an interview that as long as his health remains stable, he has no plans to give up his title as head of the Catholic Church.

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       And he is set to be the first Pope to be buried outside of the Vatican in over 100 years.

       Instead he has asked to be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, a church in Rome that he prays in before and after every journey abroad.

       Concerns for his health have swirled in recent years as he has suffered from a myriad of health problems.

       Part of his lung was removed when he was younger because of a respiratory infection, which apparently causes him to often speak in a whisper.

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       He recently had to cancel a series of appearances including at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai because of bronchitis.

       Because of his previously lung surgery, he said at the time: "Thank God it wasn’t pneumonia".

       Pope Francis taken to hospital after suffering from the flu

       And just weeks ago he told a crowd he was "not well" as the Vatican announced he had a "flu-like condition and inflammation of the respiratory tract".