Head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has been tested for coronavirus after he fell ill and was forced to cancel a religious retreat near Rome, according to Metro UK.

The sovereign of the vatican city state had been due to go to a Lent retreat, but he did not go, the first time he has not attended the event since his reign, because he was suffering from a heavy cold.

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

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said he had no immediate comment on the report.

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...SEE MORE