Pope Francis Cancels <br />Mass in Rome Due to Illness The penitential mass was <br />meant to mark the beginning of Lent. The nature of the 82-year-old <br />pope's illness was not released by the Vatican. The pope was seen sneezing and <br />coughing during the mass on Ash Wednesday. Clergy also refrained from the <br />tradition of kissing the ring of the pontiff. The pope referenced <br />the coronavirus during the mass. Pope Francis, via <br />'The New York Post' 12 people have died in Italy <br />due to the virus. More than 400 cases <br />have been confirmed in the country.
