Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, has often shared that his path to priesthood was influenced by a personal experience during his youth in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the age of 12, he developed feelings for a neighborhood girl named Amalia Damonte. In a gesture of young affection, Jorge wrote Amalia a letter expressing his desire to marry her. He even mentioned that if she declined his proposal, he would become a priest. Amalia’s parents, upon discovering the letter, disapproved of the budding relationship and forbade further contact between the two. Reflecting on this, Amalia recalled, “There was only one letter, and it cost me a smack in the face from my father.”
This early romantic disappointment is believed to have played a role in Jorge’s decision to pursue a religious vocation. True to his word, after the separation from Amalia, he entered the seminary and began his journey toward priesthood. Decades later, in 2013, when Jorge was elected as Pope Francis, Amalia was taken aback by the news. She expressed her astonishment, stating, “I froze in front of the television. I couldn’t believe that Jorge was the Pope.”
While this youthful episode offers a glimpse into the personal history of Pope Francis, it’s essential to recognize that his commitment to the Church and his spiritual journey were shaped by a multitude of experiences and influences throughout his life.
