Pope Francis tests negative for coronavirus after suffering illness

Pope Francis has tested negative for coronavirus after he had a “slight illness” which forced him to cancel all official activities amid fears in Italy over an outbreak of coronavirus.

Concerns for the Pope’s health started after the pontiff prayed for coronavirus sufferers on Ash Wednesday, while mask free, and even took time to shake hands and kiss worshippers, including a child, in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

The pontiff cancelled a series of engagements last week due to illness and announced on Sunday during his weekly address that he is cancelling a planned spiritual retreat because of a cold.

The 83-year-old pontiff was reportedly given a ‘routine’ test after falling ill on Ash Wednesday with symptoms of a cold including a cough, fever, chills and sore throat.

He was given a swab test as a precaution but the results have come back negative, according to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.