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Pope reveals he had weekly psychoanalysis sessions at age 42 Pope reveals he had weekly psychoanalysis sessions at age 42
(about 1 hour later)
Pope Francis has revealed that he sought the help of a psychoanalyst for six months at the age of 42, when he was the leader of the Jesuit order in Argentina during the country’s military dictatorship. Pope Francis has revealed that he sought the help of a psychoanalyst for six months when he was 42 and the leader of the Jesuit order in Argentina during the country’s military dictatorship.
The pope’s disclosure was made in a book based on 12 in-depth interviews with the French sociologist Dominique Wolton, to be published next week.The pope’s disclosure was made in a book based on 12 in-depth interviews with the French sociologist Dominique Wolton, to be published next week.
Francis said the weekly sessions with the Jewish psychoanalyst “helped me a lot”.Francis said the weekly sessions with the Jewish psychoanalyst “helped me a lot”.
“For six months I went to her home once a week to clarify a few things. She was a doctor and psychoanalyst. She was always there,” he told Wolton for the 432-page book, Pope Francis: Politics and Society. “For six months, I went to her home once a week to clarify a few things. She was a doctor and psychoanalyst. She was always there,” he told Wolton for the 432-page book Pope Francis: Politics and Society.
“Then one day, before she died, she called me. Not to receive the sacraments, because she was Jewish, but for a spiritual dialogue. She was a good person.”“Then one day, before she died, she called me. Not to receive the sacraments, because she was Jewish, but for a spiritual dialogue. She was a good person.”
Francis told Wolton that he now felt free. “Of course, I’m in a cage at the Vatican, but not spiritually. Nothing frightens me.” Francis told Wolton he now felt free. “Of course, I’m in a cage at the Vatican, but not spiritually. Nothing frightens me,” he said.
The pope also took aim at priests who “are rigid, and afraid to communicate”. The pope also took aim at priests who “are rigid and afraid to communicate”.
The disclosure came when Francis was discussing the role and influence of the “courageous” women in his life, including his mother, his two grandmothers and Esther Ballestrino de Careaga, the communist founder of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo movement in Buenos Aires, who was killed during the dictatorship.The disclosure came when Francis was discussing the role and influence of the “courageous” women in his life, including his mother, his two grandmothers and Esther Ballestrino de Careaga, the communist founder of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo movement in Buenos Aires, who was killed during the dictatorship.
He also spoke of childhood sweethearts and adolescent girlfriends, saying his relationships with women had enriched his life.He also spoke of childhood sweethearts and adolescent girlfriends, saying his relationships with women had enriched his life.
He told Wolton: “I thank God for having known these true women in my life.” Women saw things differently from men, “and it is important to listen to both”, he said. “I thank God for having known these true women in my life,” the pope told Wolton. “[Women see things differently from men] and it is important to listen to both.”
The Jesuit tradition is known to value psychoanalysis, with many regarding self-awareness and introspection as being complementary to spirituality.The Jesuit tradition is known to value psychoanalysis, with many regarding self-awareness and introspection as being complementary to spirituality.
Robert Mickens, the Rome-based editor of the English language edition of La Croix, the Catholic daily newspaper, said Francis had previously acknowledged that social sciences could benefit human development. Robert Mickens, the Rome-based editor of the English-language edition of the Catholic daily newspaper La Croix, said Francis had previously acknowledged that social sciences could benefit human development.
“There has been a gradual shift in attitudes within the Catholic church towards psychotherapy since the 1970s,” Mickens said. “It’s very common in priest formation programmes, especially in the western world, for them to undergo a psychological evaluation before admission to a seminary or diocese. There’s a recognition that social sciences can help unearth issues that need to be dealt with.”“There has been a gradual shift in attitudes within the Catholic church towards psychotherapy since the 1970s,” Mickens said. “It’s very common in priest formation programmes, especially in the western world, for them to undergo a psychological evaluation before admission to a seminary or diocese. There’s a recognition that social sciences can help unearth issues that need to be dealt with.”
The pope’s “eye-popping” disclosures could challenge the perception among some people that those who sought treatment were weak, he said.The pope’s “eye-popping” disclosures could challenge the perception among some people that those who sought treatment were weak, he said.
At the time of his sessions in 1978 or 1979, tensions over the leadership of Jorge Bergoglio – as Pope Francis was then known – was high among Argentina’s Jesuits. At the time of his sessions in 1978 or 1979, tensions over the leadership of Jorge Bergoglio, as Pope Francis was then known, were high among Argentina’s Jesuits.
He had earlier been accused of effectively delivering two fellow priests to the military authorities in 1976 when he refused to publicly endorse their controversial social work in the slums of Buenos Aires. He had earlier been accused of effectively delivering two fellow priests to the military authorities in 1976, when he refused to publicly endorse their controversial social work in the slums of Buenos Aires.
Argentina’s “dirty war” was over by the time of Bergoglio’s psychotherapy, but the military dictatorship was still in place.Argentina’s “dirty war” was over by the time of Bergoglio’s psychotherapy, but the military dictatorship was still in place.
However, there was continuing controversy over his divisive leadership. During his six years as provincial superior, from 1973-79, he upset some with his determination to impose a fresh direction and purpose. However, there was continuing controversy over his divisive leadership. During his six years as provincial superior from 1973 to 1979, he upset some people with his determination to impose a fresh direction and purpose.
At the time he sought help, “he was coming to the end of his time as provincial leader, and he was probably aware of a whole lot of issues”, said Austen Ivereigh, the author of The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope. “But it’s also possible he sought help in dealing with issues much earlier in his life.” At the time when he sought help, “he was coming to the end of his time as provincial leader, and he was probably aware of a whole lot of issues”, said Austen Ivereigh, the author of The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope. “But it’s also possible he sought help in dealing with issues much earlier in his life.”
In his conversations with Wolton, Francis said European countries exploited Africa in the colonial era, and that although Europe had “important Christian roots … they are not the only ones. There are others that cannot be denied.” In his conversations with Wolton, Francis said European countries exploited Africa in the colonial era, and although Europe had “important Christian roots … they are not the only ones. There are others that cannot be denied”.
Abortion, he said, was a “grave sin, it’s the murder of an innocent”. And while he insisted marriage was between a man and a woman – “We cannot change it. This is the nature of things” – the pope acknowledged the existence of same-sex civil unions. Abortion, he said, was a “grave sin, it’s the murder of an innocent”. And while he insisted marriage was between a man and a woman, saying “we cannot change it, this is the nature of things”, the pope acknowledged the existence of same-sex civil unions.