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Italian priest hangs up cassock for love

Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/04/14/hands.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Photo by Jacob Rank on Unsplash</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>ROME, Italy - Churchgoers in a small town in central Italy assembled for mass as usual were hardly expecting a confession from their own parish priest.</p><p>But that&#x27;s what priest Riccardo Ceccobelli, 42, delivered on Sunday inside the San Felice church in Massa Martana, in Perugia, when he revealed that he had fallen in love. </p><p>&quot;I cannot not continue to be coherent, transparent and correct with regards to her (the Church), as I have always been so far,&quot; Ceccobelli told his parishioners, according to a statement published on Tuesday by the diocese.</p><p>&quot;My heart is in love although I have never had the opportunity to transgress the promises I made,&quot; he explained.</p><p>&quot;I want to try to live this love without repressing it, without pushing it away.&quot;</p><p>Ceccobelli, who for six years has been the priest of the small town of over 3,550 inhabitants, received the blessing of his superior, Bishop Gualtiero Sigismondi, who was at the priest&#x27;s side when he addressed the parish, according to the statement. </p><p>The priest, whose story was reported in national newspapers Tuesday, has been suspended from his duties and formalities have begun to return him to the lay state. </p><p>&quot;All my gratitude to Don Riccardo for the service done so far,&quot; said Bishop Sigismondi. &quot;Above all my most sincere wishes go to Don Riccardo that this choice, made in full freedom as he confided to me, may ensure him serenity and peace.&quot;</p><p>No word, however, either in the media or in the diocese&#x27;s statement on the identity of the woman for whom Don Riccardo hung up his cassock. </p><div><strong>ams/ar/mjs</strong></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1660977" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>ROME, Italy - Churchgoers in a small town in central Italy assembled for mass as usual were hardly expecting a confession from their own parish priest.<br /> </p>

ROME, Italy - Churchgoers in a small town in central Italy assembled for mass as usual were hardly expecting a confession from their own parish priest.