Pope Francis Tested For Coronavirus, Result Released

Since Pope Francis was seen coughing and sweating after he prayed and kissed coronavirus infected patients, there were speculations that he might have contacted the disease.

Pope Francis was then tested for coronavirus and was forced to cancel a religious retreat near Rome.

The pontiff had been due to go to a Lent retreat, but he did not go, the first time he has not attended the event during his papacy because he was suffering from a heavy cold.

The results for Covid-19 came back negative, according to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero this morning.

The 83-year-old Roman Catholic leader, who had part of one lung removed because of an illness decades ago, also cancelled most audiences last week.

Francis was to have taken part in the week-long retreat with senior Vatican officials that began on Sunday night at a Church residence south of Rome.

But in a surprise announcement hours earlier, he said he would be following it from his residence in a Vatican guest house.

He has been taken ill at a time when Italy is battling a surging outbreak of the potentially deadly coronavirus.