Vatican denies that Pope Francis is sick

After scaling back on daily Masses and declining to hold public appearances in St. Peter's Square this July, Pope Francis sparked a wave of speculation about his health. This afternoon, the Vatican issued an official statement to let churchgoers know the pope is doing just fine.

"There is no sickness whatsoever," Rev. Thomas Rosica, a Vatican spokesperson, told CNN. "If there was, we would be open about that and asking people to pray for him." Rosica denied that the pope has any illness, despite his resting for two days earlier this month due to "minor indisposition."

Pope Francis made his usual appearance in St. Peter's Square this morning and will visit South Korea in August. Unlike the faithful, he doesn't seem too concerned about his health — he recently refused to use the bulletproof Popemobile, saying that "anything could happen," but at his age, he doesn't "have much to lose."

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