Pope cancels Florence visit and Ash Wednesday events due to acute knee pain

The Pope (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)

Pope Francis has cancelled a scheduled Sunday visit to Florence and will not preside over Ash Wednesday commemorations next week because of what the Vatican described as a flare-up of “acute” knee pain.

The Vatican said the 85-year-old was cancelling his participation in the events after his doctors prescribed a period of rest.