TENSION:Pope Francis falls sick after meeting people with Coronavirus
Afnews Editor
Feb 27, 2020
Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis has cancelled a Mass as he catches an unspecified illness after meeting with people with Coronavirus on Wednesday.
The clergy has remained in Rome due to the illness.
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Mirror UK quoted the Vatican as saying that the 83-year-old pontiff, had a 'slight indisposition' and would proceed with the rest of his planned work later on Thursday.
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[caption id="attachment_55751" align="alignnone" width="595"] Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis[/caption]
It said the pontiff, however, "preferred to stay near Santa MartaÔÇØ, the Vatican hotel where he uses as his residence.
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The Vatican has not disclosed the nature of his illness, but the Pontiff was seen coughing and blowing his nose during the Ash Wednesday Mass, according to the newspaper.
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Speaking during the ash Wednesday service Pope told well-wishers, "I wish, again, to express my closeness to those who are ill with coronavirus and to health-care workers who are caring for them.ÔÇØ
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Confirmed cases of the Coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, has been reported in Italy as more than 400 people, have been infected. Almost all the cases are report in the northern Italy.
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Francis had been scheduled to go to the St John Lateran basilica to meet with Rome clergy and celebrate a penitential Mass at the start of Lent.
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The South American pope has generally enjoyed good health.
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As a young man, he lost part of one lung because of a respiratory illness, and suffers from sciatica, which makes walking difficult.
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A number of people wore masks in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday but only one person was seen wearing one at the Pope's Ash Wednesday service.
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— Afnews Editor