“There was a girl that turned my head for a week when I was at the seminary,” he said.
Before devoting his life to the Church, the late Pope Francis admitted to a youthful romance that left him “obsessed” and seeking confession during his seminary days.
During a 2014 interview, Pope Francis revealed he once fell for a woman while training to be a priest in his early 20s. “There was a girl that turned my head for a week when I was at the seminary,” he said. “I tell my confessor about these things.” Earlier reports also claimed a childhood friend, Amalia Damonte, said he had promised to marry her at age 12 before their families separated them.
The first Latin American pope, who passed away April 21 at 88, acknowledged another girlfriend at 17 before embracing priesthood. His calling reportedly struck during a night out in Buenos Aires, leading him to abandon romantic pursuits for religious life.
Though bound by celibacy, Francis’ candid admissions humanized his spiritual journey. His early loves contrasted with his later devotion, leaving a legacy of humility and relatability.
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