The Roman Catholic church leader has been advised by Vatican doctors to start doing exercises because he is gaining weight.

The Telegraph reported that Vatican doctors told Pope Francis to lay off from eating pasta as he has been packing on extra pounds since he has been elected two years ago.

Italy's national news agency, the Ansa, states that doctors said that Pope Francis "needs to adopt a more disciplined regimen" to be able to fight the strain and stress he is facing as the Catholic leader. They also reportedly advised the 78-year-old pontiff to only eat pasta twice a week and exercise more.

The Express also reported that it is not the first time that the issue of Pope Francis gaining weight is in the headlines. It was July of last year when he canceled a series of appearances and many have reportedly been questioning is health status due to his weight gain.

The Argentine leader is a fan of pasta and, in a recent interview during his two year papacy, also revealed that he loves to eat pizza.

"The only thing I would like is to go out one day, without being recognized and go to a pizzeria for a pizza," told Pope Francis in a Mexican television channel Televisia.

He also added that he might consider resigning if he felt he no longer had the physical or mental capacity to do the duties and responsibilities of a pontiff.

"I have the feeling that my pontificate will be brief: four or five years, even two or three," said Pope Francis. "Two have already passed, it is a somewhat strange sensation, maybe it's like the psychology of the gambler who convinces himself, he will lose so he won't be disappointed and if he wins, is happy.'

Meanwhile, Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the US at the end of 2015.