Pope Francis has missed a planned Mass with Rome clergy due to illness.

The Vatican said the 83-year-old pontiff had a ‘slight indisposition’ and would proceed with the rest of his planned work on Thursday but Francis ‘preferred to stay near Santa Marta’, the Vatican hotel where he lives.

There was no word from the Vatican about the nature of his illness, but the pope was seen coughing and blowing his nose during the Ash Wednesday Mass.

source dailymail.co.uk