The Vatican is denying as "completely unfounded" a report in an Italian newspaper that Pope Francis has a small, curable brain tumor.
The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the report Wednesday in the National Daily was "completely unfounded and seriously irresponsible and not worthy of attention."
Citing unnamed nursing sources, the National Daily said the 78-year-old pope had traveled by helicopter to the San Rossore di Barbaricina clinic near Pisa in recent months to see a Japanese brain cancer specialist, Dr. Takanori Fukishima. The newspaper said the doctor determined that the small dark spot on Francis' brain could be treated without surgery.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/vatican-denies-report-pope-small-curable-brain-tumor-34618040