Pope makes first public appearance in four days after illness forced him to cancel events as he delivers weekly Sunday message at the Vatican
- Pope makes first public appearance since he was seen coughing last Wednesday
- Francis forced to cancel official audiences and activities over the ‘mild ailment’
- During Ash Wednesday Mass in Rome, Pope was seen coughing and sneezing
- Despite delivering weekly address today, the pontiff cancelled a spiritual retreat
Pope Francis today made his first public appearance in four days following what the Vatican has called a ‘slight indisposition’ that forced him to cancel some audiences and activities.
The 83-year-old Roman Catholic leader appeared at the window of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace to address thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square for his weekly Sunday noon message and blessing.
It was his first public appearance since an Ash Wednesday Mass in Rome, during which he was seen coughing and sneezing.
Despite recovering enough to make his weekly Sunday address, Francis was forced to cancel a planned spiritual retreat due to start later today.
His illness came a day after he was pictured kissing heads and touching faces as he met with crowds in St. Peter’s Square, saying he had solidarity with those suffering from coronavirus.
Pope Francis giving his speech on Wednesday during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican
Francis was seen coughing and wiping his nose during the Ash Wednesday mass which opens Lent.
Pope Francis postponed his official appointments on Friday and was ‘working from home’, the Vatican said.
A day earlier he cancelled a scheduled appearance at mass because of ‘a mild ailment’.
The 83-year-old appeared earlier in the week to be suffering from a cold. He was seen blowing his nose and coughing during the Ash Wednesday service, and his voice sounded hoarse.
The Vatican has not specified what was ailing Francis. However, amid fears in Italy over an outbreak of coronavirus, spokesman Matteo Bruni dismissed on Friday speculation that the pope was anything more than slightly unwell.
‘There is no evidence that would lead to diagnosing anything but a mild indisposition,’ he said.
However, the Pope Francis announced during his speech he will be cancelling a planned retreat due to a ‘cold’.
Pope Francis greeting the faithful during the weekly general audience at Vatican last Wednesday
On Sunday afternoon, Francis and senior Vatican officials were due to travel to a Church residence south of Rome for their annual week-long Lenten spiritual retreat.
But today he said the illness he is suffering from will force him to skip the week-long Lenten spiritual event that had been due to start later in the day.
The pope made the surprise announcement to thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square.
He told the crowd: ‘Unfortunately a cold will force me not take part this year [in the retreat]. I will follow the meditations from here.’
Italy is suffering the worst outbreak of coronavirus in Europe, registering more than 1,100 confirmed cases since February 20. At least 29 people have died.
Francis is missing a part of one lung. It was removed when he was in his early 20s in his native Buenos Aires after an illness.