Coughing pope nixes spiritual retreat, saying he has a cold

VATICAN — Pope Francis says today he is canceling a planned six-day spiritual retreat south of Rome after coming down with a “cold.”

“Unfortunately, a cold forced me not to take part this year,” the 83-year-old pontiff says after coughing a couple of times during his weekly appearance from a Vatican window in front of supporters.

— AFP

Pope Francis wipes his nose during the Ash Wednesday mass on February 26, 2020, at the Santa Sabina church in Rome. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP)

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