Pope Francis Critically Ill After Praying For Coronavirus Patients

Pope Francis has been taken ill and cancelled an event at a Rome basilica as coronavirus locks down towns in northern Italy UK mirror reports.

The pontiff had earlier prayed for coronavirus sufferers on Ash Wednesday, and, while mask free, took time to shake hands and kiss worshippers, including a child, in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

The pope appeared to have a cold and spoke with a slightly hoarse voice at his general audience on Wednesday and coughed during an afternoon Ash Wednesday service in a Rome church.

After falling ill, he is carrying out the rest of his schedule in his residence, the Vatican said on Thursday.

“Because of a slight indisposition, he preferred to stay inside Santa Marta,” the Vatican said, referring to the guest house where the 83-year-old pontiff lives.

All other commitments will go ahead regularly,” spokesman Matteo Bruni said

In Italy, the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto are locked down, after the report of over 500 cases and 14 deaths from the deadly Covid 19.