VATICAN CITY  — The director of the Holy See Press Office has denied reports in the Italian press that Pope Francis is suffering from a brain tumor and denounced such dissemination as “gravely irresponsible.”

Wednesday's statement by Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi came in response to an Oct. 21 report by Italian agency Quotidiano Nazionale alleging that the Pope had been diagnosed with a small but curable brain tumor.

“The dissemination of totally unfounded news regarding the Holy Father's health by an Italian press agency is gravely irresponsible and unworthy of attention,” reads the Oct. 21 statement.

“Moreover, as everyone can see, the Pope is carrying out his very intense activity without interruption, in a way that is absolutely normal.”

Pope Francis is taking part in the synod on the family currently under way in the Vatican. Over the course of his pontificate, he has canceled few meetings and visits, but always maintaining an intense schedule, including pastoral visits, presiding over major Vatican events and papal trips, the latest of which were visits to America and Cuba.

Father Lombardi reconfirmed the Italian news agency's article as false at a Vatican press briefing later the same day, saying the details of the report had been verified as having never taken place. He added that the publication of the report was unjustifiable.

The director of the Holy See Press Office also confirmed at Wednesday's briefing that "the Pope enjoys good health," as evidenced by his presence at the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square.

The Pope has some difficulties with his leg, but "his head, it seems to me, is absolutely perfect."