Pope Francis has tested negative for the Coronavirus after an initial scare. 

Pope Francis is missing part of one lung, due to an early respiratory illness as a young man. The lung was removed in his early 20s after suffering from tuberculosis. 

This brought about suspicion by the media that he was more susceptible to the coronavirus.

The Pope cancelled several public meetings after suffering a slight cold according to the newspaper, IL Messaggero. 

Public speculation was that the Pope, aged 83, had contracted the Coronavirus as he fell ill a day after he had  publicly supported Coronavirus sufferers. 

Pope Francis did not specifically meet with coronavirus sufferers, but he shook hands with the faithful in the front row during the audience. The Pope also kissed a baby. 

A day later the Pope was seen coughing and he ultimately had to cancel his participation in a week-long lent retreat that he should have attended because of the cold.

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It was the first time in Pope France’s seven year papacy that he had missed the spiritual exercises that he initiated early in his pontificate to mark the start of each Lenten season.

The Pope also postponed a major conference till November. 

The Pope spoke with a slightly hoarse voice, and he paused  twice to cough during a Sunday service after, while addressing the faithful.

He also coughed multiple times on an afternoon Ash Wednesday service in a Rome church.

This spark public speculation in the Italian media that the Pope has contracted the dreaded coronavirus.

The Vatican spokesperson , Matteo Bruno, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

He then initially described the Pope’s condition as a “slight illness” as the sight of the Pope coughing in public was causing unrest with the faithful.

The Pope has however undergone a test and it has been confirmed that it was just a common cold, as he tested negative for the coronavirus.

 Itialy is known as a major hub for the coronavirus, as 400 cases have already been confirmed with a death toll of 12 people. Most cases have been reported in northern Italy.