The Vatican on Wednesday debunked a newspaper report that claimed Pope Francis has a benign brain tumour.

Vatican Spokesman, Federico Lombardi, in a statement said that, “the circulation of entirely unfounded news regarding the health of the Holy Father is gravely irresponsible and unworthy of attention.’’

Lombardi said that the Pope is well and keeping up with his busy schedule “as usual.”

A Bologna-based newspaper Il Resto del Carlino reported that the 78-year-old discovered a dark spot on his head several months ago and was examined by a Japanese specialist in Pisa.

The daily paper claimed that surgery was not necessary to treat the supposed tumour.

Reacting to Vatican’s reaction, the newspaper’s Editor-in-chief, Andrea Cangini said, “the denial is understandable and was to be expected.

“We held the story back for a long time in order to check the case from all sides, we do not doubt the validity of it in the slightest,” Cangini said.

The story emerged during the final days of a three-week Synod of Bishops, a Catholic summit on family issues in the Vatican during which bishops discussed divorce, homosexuality and cohabitation out of wedlock.