The Archbishop of Canterbury has been diagnosed with pneumonia after being forced to pull out of his Christmas Day sermon through illness, Lambeth Palace said.
The Most Rev Justin Welby missed the annual Canterbury Cathedral service after being unwell for a several days with what was thought at the time to be a "severe cold".
But Lambeth Palace tweeted today: "Just to confirm the Archbishop of Canterbury @JustinWelby has pneumonia & is resting at home. Thanks for all your prayers & good wishes."
The Archbishop had been due to talk at the cathedral about how the true spirit of Christmas cannot be captured in fairytale endings, using the example of the First World War Christmas truce in 1914.
Today, he was taking bed rest at home, but was still able to send out a Boxing Day tweet from @JustinWelby, saying: "St Stephens day, may we pray for those in deep suffering for their faith, and, like Stephen, for their persecutors."
According to NHS Choices, pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs most commonly caused by a bacterial infection.
Symptoms include a phlegmy cough, a fever and difficulty breathing and it can need hospital treatment in extreme cases.
It is usually treated with antibiotics and bed rest.
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