Vatican Denies Brain Tumor Diagnosis On Pope Fr

The Vatican has officially denied reports by an Italian media outfit, which claimed that Pope Francis has a benign brain tumor.

An Italian media house earlier reported that Pope Francis was diagnosed with a benign tumor in the brain.

According to the newspaper ‘Quotidiano Nazionale’, the 78-year-old pope had secretly flown by helicopter to a small Tuscan town “some time ago” to see a Japanese doctor.

The national paper reported on Wednesday, October 21, that the Argentine pontiff was diagnosed with “a small dark spot on the brain”, adding that the ailment is curable.
The pope, however, seem to be in good health in recent months apart from some leg pain due to the fact that he suffers from sciatica, for which he undergoes regular physical therapy in the Vatican.
In reacting to the newspaper’s claim, Father Federico Lombardi, the chief Vatican spokesman said:  “The circulation of entirely unfounded news regarding the health of the Holy Father by an Italian newspaper is gravely irresponsible and unworthy of attention.”
He said: “Furthermore, as is clearly evident, the pope is carrying out his very intense activity in a totally normal way.”
Briefly after the statement denying the medical anomaly, Francis held his weekly general audience before tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square.

The pope has been attending a three-week gathering of Roman Catholic bishops from around the world, daily.
In his first official trip to Africa, the pope has refused to visit Nigeria. Vatican officials say 
The shunning of Nigeria is informed by the numerous attacks by the Islamist sect, Boko Haram.