Vatican City: Pope Francis, who cancelled a Lent retreat for the first time in his papacy, is suffering only from a cold that is "without symptoms related to other pathologies," the Vatican said on Tuesday.

A statement followed a report in an Italian newspaper that said the pope had tested negative for coronavirus. It did not say whether the pope had been given a test for the virus.

"The cold the Holy Father was diagnosed as having is taking its course without symptoms related to other pathologies," spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

Francis was to have taken part in a week-long retreat with senior Vatican officials that began on Sunday night at a Church residence south of Rome, but did not go at the last minute.