Amid ongoing coronavirus spread in Italy, Pope Francis has gotten sick, forcing him to cancel a planned Mass in Rome.
He felt sick just a day after expressing his solidarity with coronavirus victims across the world.
The sickness has forced the 82-year-old pope to cancel a penitential Mass, “marking the start of Lent, that he’d planned to celebrate at the St. John Lateran basilica across town with Roman clergy,” according to the Vatican.
Officials said he will proceed with the rest of his planned work but “preferred to stay near Santa Marta,” which is a Vatican hotel where he lives.
However, the Vatican officials have not given any specific details about the nature of his illness. Francis was seen “coughing” and “blowing his nose” during Ash Wednesday Mass, per the Vatican.
So far, 655 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Italy, and 17 people have died, with most cases reported in northern Italy. Rome reported three cases of the virus, who have already recovered.
Globally, COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, has affected more than 83,380 and killed 2,858 people.
On Wednesday, the pope expressed his concern and support for coronavirus victims during a General Audience in St. Peter’s Square on Ash.
He said, “I wish, again, to express my closeness to those who are ill with coronavirus and to health care workers who are caring for them.”
Although Francis did not specifically meet with coronavirus victim, he shook hands with the audience in the front row. He even kissed a baby during his popemobile spin and greeted visiting bishops.
