Pope Francis skips annual retreat for first time as coughing pontiff blames cold

Illness comes amid rapid spread of coronavirus in Italy

Pope Francis has revealed he will skip an annual spiritual retreat, saying a cold has forced him to cancel.

The 83-year-old was coughing as he made the surprise announcement to thousands of followers in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

It came after he was forced to cancel all public engagements between Thursday and Saturday - the first time he has pulled out of so many events in his seven-year papacy.​

Concerns were first raised over the Pope’s health on Wednesday, when he was seen coughing and sneezing, and just as Italy is battling the world’s second-worst outbreak of coronavirus.

The number of cases in the country was 1,128 on Sunday, with 29 deaths, according to official figures.

Six cases have been reported to date in Lazio, the region around Rome.

The Pope’s spokesman, Matteo Bruni, has dismissed speculation Francis was anything more than slightly unwell.

“There is no evidence that would lead to diagnosing anything but a mild indisposition,” he said.

Pope Francis, who had been due to attend a week-long spiritual retreat in the countryside, told the crowd: “Unfortunately a cold will force me not to take part this year. I will follow the meditations from here,” he said, sounding as though he had a stuffy nose.

At mass on Ash Wednesday, he was seen coughing and blowing his nose.

Coronavirus – also called Covid-19 – has infected more than 86,000 people globally, nearly 80,000 of which are in China, where it originated. Iran has reported 978 cases.

In northern Italy, the virus is forcing people to change their habits, many people staying at home to avoid all social contact.

The financial capital, Milan, is as empty as in the peak summer holiday period, with many companies giving professionals the option to work from home, and some restaurants and shops are closed because of a lack of business. Ones that remain open are unseasonably empty.

Additional reporting by agencies