Pope Francis tests negative for coronavirus after skipping spiritual retreat

Pope Francis tested negative for vel coronavirus after health condition of 83-year-old triggered fear of a possible infection, reported an Italian newspaper. Pope h skipped week-long Lenten spiritual retreat with senior Vatican officials near Rome for first time in his papacy since his election in 2013.

Vatican said that decision to skip retreat was a last-minute one considering health of Pope who was seen coughing and sneezing during his first public appearance in four days. Vatican h earlier said that Pope Francis was suffering from “slight indisposition” that forced him to avoid public appearance.

Pope was battling an apparent cold that led to cancellation of several official engments and finally appeared on March 1 where he said that a cold prevented him to participate in retreat. Vatican did t reveal nature of Pope's illness, however, his illness was reported amid alarm in Italy over coronavirus outbreak.

'Slight indisposition'

While speaking to an international media outlet, Matteo Bruni dismissed speculations that Pope was anything more than slightly unwell. He reportedly said that re is evidence that would le to diagsing anything but a “slight indisposition”. Bruni has t officially confirmed report on Pope Francis regarding coronavirus.

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83-year-old h lost part of his lung to respiratory illness in his early 20s, however, he has never cancelled so many official audiences or events in his seven years of papacy. He was expected to travel to a Church residence south of Rome for annual week-long Lenten spiritual retreat but plan was cancelled in last minute.

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threat of a pandemic is growing with every passing day and European Union has also raised risk level of coronavirus from ‘moderate’ to ‘high’. Speaking at a news conference on March 2, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen anunced that European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control raised risk level looking at concerning situation.

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(With ncy inputs)