Pope Francis cancels events and will hold prayers via video on Sundays.
Due to the coronavirus outbreak in Italy, the Pope has cancelled his major public appearances to prevent crowds from gathering to see him and will communicate via the internet.
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) Pope Francis has cancelled his major public appearances to prevent crowds from gathering to see him and will communicate via the internet from inside the Vatican, due to the coronavirus outbreak in Italy.
The Vatican said he would not address the crowds from a window overlooking St. Peter's Square and that he would not hold his general audience on Wednesday.
These events will be held without public participation, from inside the Vatican.
The 83-year-old pope canceled a Lenten retreat for the first time in his papacy, but the Vatican said he is only suffering from a cold "without symptoms related to other pathologies."
Reporting by Philip Pullella