Priests’ lovers in heartfelt appeal to lift Church’s ‘wall of silence’

A group of Italian women who are in love with Catholic priests have appealed to Pope Francis to re-examine the rules on priestly celibacy. The 26 women, who signed only with their Christian names, wrote to the Pope saying it was hypocritical for priests to live a “secret life”.

They wrote: “We are a group of women from all over Italy who write to you to break the wall of silence and indifference that we are faced with every day. Each of us is in, or wishes to have, a loving relationship with a priest with whom she has fallen in love.

“Few people realise the devastating suffering of a woman who goes through the powerful experi­ence of falling in love with a priest. With humility, we place before you this problem.”

The women went on: “We love these men, they love us. These solid and beautiful relationships cannot be broken. The only two choices are leave the priesthood or have a secret relationship.”