Pope Francis reveals how he was so 'dazzled' by a girl when he was a young man ... trends now
Pope Francis has revealed how he was so 'dazzled' by a girl when he was a young man that he struggled to pray and nearly gave up on his plans to be a priest.
His desire for the young woman could have deprived the Roman Catholic Church of its first leader from the Americas.
He makes the claim in his new autobiography, titled Life: My Story Through History, which will be published next week.
The Argentine also devotes an entire chapter to his countryman Diego Maradona, whose infamous 'hand of god' goal against England in the Quarter Finals helped his team eventually lift the trophy in 1986.
The 87-year-old football enthusiast reveals how years after it happened he asked the star who was visiting the Vatican: 'So, which is the guilty hand?'.
Pope Francis has revealed how he was so 'dazzled' by a girl when he was a young man that he struggled to pray and nearly gave up on his plans to be a priest. Pictured: The leader embracing a child on March 16, 2024
Pictured: Pope Francis hugs a child during a special audience with managers and staff of the Children's Hospital 'Bambino Gesu' at Paul VI Hall, Vatican City
He Pope has revealed more information about his life his new autobiography, titled Life: My Story Through History, which will be published next week
Elsewhere in the book he writes he first met the girl he would become infatuated with at his uncle's wedding.
He writes she was 'so beautiful and intelligent' it caused him, known only as Jorge Bergoglio then, to 'turn his head'.
When the devout Catholic, who was already studying to become a priest, tried to pray for the next week he found himself unable to as the girl's image was floating around his head.
But he writes it 'fortunately' passed and he was then able to dedicate his soul and body to his work.
The leader of the powerful religion previously revealed his teenage infatuation in an interview in 2012 where he said he was 'bowled over' by her beauty and intelligence.
After the wedding, he returned to his priestly studies but admitted: 'I kept thinking and thinking about her.
'When I returned to the seminary after the wedding, I could not pray for over a week because when I tried to do so, the girl appeared in my head. I had to rethink what I was doing.
Portrait shots are often forced, but a young Jorge Mario Bergoglio looks relaxed and cheery here
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, second from left in back row, poses for a picture with his family before he became pope and took the name Francis
Pope Francis meets Argentinian player Diego Armando Maradona in a private audience at the Vatican in 2014
The Argentine presented a personalised Argentina jersey to Pope Francis during a meeting with organisers, players and guests of the inter-religious match for peace football game that was played in Rome's Olympic Styadium
'I was still free because I was a seminarian, so I could have gone back home and that was it. I had to think about my choice again. I chose again – or let myself be chosen by – the religious path.
'It would be abnormal for this kind of thing not to happen.'
However, despite his youthful romance, the Pope remains convinced about the value of mandatory celibacy for Catholic priests.
He had in the past proposed reviewing the thousand-year-old practice of celibacy, arguing the ban was only 'temporary' and there was also 'no contradiction' for a priest to marry.
Celibacy was made a requirement by the Catholic Church in the 11th century for financial reasons, as clergy without children were more likely to leave their wealth to the church.
But despite calls for reform the pope has retained the long-held practice.
The memoir, which is written with Italian journalist Fabio Marchese Ragona, allows Francis to trace key moments in his life, including the Second World War, Argentina's military dictatorship, the Cold War and the September 11 attacks.
It covers a broad range of topics, from the leader's childhood in Buenos Aires to the challenges he has faced while managing the Vatican.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio (centre) at the Procession of Mary Help of Christians in 1949
Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio before he became Pope
The pontiff is considered one of the most progressive leaders of the Catholic Church in centuries, and has made several proclamations that have raised eyebrows among more conservative members of the faith.
In December he formally allowed priests to bless same-sex couples, while reaffirming that marriage is between a man and a woman.
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