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Is the papal menu at the Vatican too good, or is Pope Francis so busy being pontiff that he has no time to exercise? Either way, the pizza-loving pope has been told to cut down on the food he loves.
The 78-year-old pontiff is visibly chubbier these days than he was when he lived in Argentina and was known for a frugal lifestyle and for walking as much as he could.
 Since being elected he has made several enigmatic remarks suggesting he does not expect to be pope for longer than a few years, triggering speculation about possible health issues.
 The latest came in a pre-Easter mass on Thursday, when he talked about the physically and emotionally exhausting nature of the work of a parish priest. "Do you know how often I think about this weariness which all of you experience?" he asked the audience. "I think and pray about it often, especially when I am tired myself."
 The mass was the start of another hectic phase for Francis, who had a string of engagements over Easter, the holiest period in the Christian calendar.
 After the morning mass, he was back on duty on Thursday evening, visiting a Roman prison for a ceremony in which he washes the feet of prisoners, as Jesus did for his disciples.
 According to Italian media reports, doctors have advised the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics to cut back on pasta to shift his surplus pounds. That will have the knock-on effect of easing the painful attacks of sciatica that have dogged him throughout his time in Rome. The pontiff has a history of back problems linked to having had part of one of his lungs removed as a young man. He walks with a slight limp.
 In a recent interview with Mexican television he described his dearest wish as being able to escape the cloistered world of the Vatican and go for a pizza. His doctors would approve of the walk, less so pizza, which is considered one of the most fattening foods there is because of its combination of refined carbohydrates and high-fat content.
 Francis biographer Elisabetta Pique says the weight gain is unlikely to be due to overeating, despite the stress created by his responsibilities and tough schedule.
 "He is not a big eater," she said.
 "But I wouldn't call him unhealthy; you can see that he has a lot of energy and that basically his health is very good," added the author of  Pope Francis: Life and Revolution.

 A chef who worked for the Vatican's Swiss Guards published a book of recipes in which he revealed the current pope has a weakness for dulce de leche, the famous dessert of his homeland, made from sweetened milk.


Pizza-loving Pope told to cut down on his favourite food after piling on the pounds

Pope Francis receives a pizza delivery as his boat went by the Naples waterfront during a one-day visit to the Italian city.Photo: AP

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