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Pope Francis will skip spiritual retreat due to a cold
In this Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020 file photo Pope Francis wipes his nose during the Ash Wednesday Mass opening Lent. (AP)

Pope Francis announced on Sunday that a cold he is suffering from will force him to skip a week-long Lenten spiritual retreat with senior Vatican officials south of Rome 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 during his first public appearance since last Wednesday, when he was seen coughing and sneezing.


The Vatican has said he is suffering from a “slight indisposition”.


“Unfortunately a cold will force me not to take part this year (in the retreat). I will follow the meditations from here,” he said.


source: Reuters