Pope Francis greets pilgrims in Bari despite virus outbreak

Pope Francis shook hands with Roman Catholic faithful during a visit to Bari on Sunday as Italy dealt with a sharp rise in cases of the new virus from China.

The pontiff spoke with worshippers as he traveled to deliver Sunday Mass at Basilica San Nicola.

By Sunday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Italy had reached 115, according to state TV.

The jump in cases has prompted authorities to place roughly a dozen towns, mainly in the country's north, into lockdown.

The Pope is in Bari to preside over the closing of the "Mediterranean Sea a border of peace" conference.

Twenty bishops from nations surrounding the Mediterranean are attending the five-day summit.