VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis began a busy Monday of public audiences by saying that he was ill and not able to read his speech but the Vatican chief spokesman said the pontiff was only suffering from a cold.

 “Good day, I greet you all and welcome you,” Francis said, sounding tired, at the start of an audience in the Vatican with a group of European rabbis.

 “Thank you for this visit, which pleases me so much, but it happens that I am not well and therefore I prefer not read my speech but to give it to you for you to take away.”

 Vatican communications director Matteo Bruni noted that the pontiff had a busy schedule Monday including meeting a group of 7,000 school children from around the world.

 “He has a bit of a cold and a long day of audiences,” Bruni said, “He wanted to greet the European rabbis individually and for this reason he gave them the text of the speech. For everything else the activities of the pope continue regularly.”

 jp