POPE Francis cancelled events for the second day in a row today after falling ill.

The Vatican said the 83-year-old pontiff had decided not to go ahead with official audiences after he skipped a church service yesterday.

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Pope Francis leads a mass at the Vatican yesterday after pulling out of engagements through illness Credit: Reuters

The day before Pope Francis blew his nose during an Ash Wednesday mass Credit: Reuters

The Pope covered his mouth as he coughed Credit: AP:Associated Press

1 Francis appeared to be struggling during the service at St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday Credit: Getty Images - Getty

It comes as Italy is reeling from a worsening coronavirus outbreak which has so infected more than 500 people and caused 17 deaths.

The Vatican declined to say whether the Pope will be tested for the virus.

A spokesman said he celebrated Mass as usual this morning and will go ahead with some private meetings.

Yesterday he was too unwell to travel to a mass on the other side of Rome and stayed in the Santa Marta guesthouse where he lives in the Vatican.

His spokesman said he had a "light indisposition".

Concerns for his health had been raised the day before after he was seen coughing and blowing his nose during an Ash Wednesday service in St Peter's Basilica.

Earlier on Wednesday - the first day of Lent - Francis appeared in good spirits as he greeted a large crowd at a general audience in St Peter's Square.

Many of the faithful wore face masks, but others did not as they kissed the the Holy Father and shook his hand.

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On Sunday Francis mingled with 40,000 faithful in Bari, hugging and kissing people in the crowds after expressing his support for those infected by coronavirus and health workers treating them.

The Argentine Pope has generally enjoyed good health.

But he lost part of one lung after suffering TB as a young man in Buenos Aires, and suffers from sciatica, which makes walking difficult.

The Vatican released this picture of the Pope meeting climate activists after he pulled out of a church service yesterday Credit: EPA

Pope Francis appeared in good spirits as he greeted the faithful in St Peter's Square on Wednesday Credit: Reuters

Francis is kissed by a worshipper on Ash Wednesday Credit: AP:Associated Press

Some of the crowd wore face masks amid a coronavirus outbreak across Italy Credit: Alamy Live News