The passing of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, brought the Catholic world into a period of mourning, marking the end of a papacy that redefined the role of the Church in the modern world. Known for his commitment to social justice, environmental issues, and interfaith dialogue, Pope Francis was a figure who transcended traditional papal norms. His passing, though deeply saddening, also led to a renewed interest in his past, particularly his early life and the relationships that shaped the man he became.

Among the many aspects of his youth, there is one woman whose name has been tied to the Pope’s early years: Amalia Damonte, a childhood acquaintance and, by some accounts, his first love. Though not much has been written about their relationship, Amalia’s story provides rare insight into a man who would one day rise to lead the Catholic Church.

I. The Story of Amalia Damonte: Pope Francis’ Childhood Friend

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was raised in the Buenos Aires suburb of Flores. It was in this area that he met Amalia Damonte, a neighbor with whom he shared a brief but memorable childhood connection. While Pope Francis never openly discussed this chapter of his life, Amalia herself shared her recollections in a 2013 interview. In the interview, she reflected on the early days when the two were 12 years old, noting that Pope Francis had once written her a heartfelt note.

“I remember perfectly that he had drawn me a little white house, with a red roof, and it said, ‘This is what I’ll buy when we marry,’” Amalia recounted. The gesture, though innocent and childlike, became a source of family tension. Amalia’s parents were not pleased by the note, leading her father to discipline her and her mother to intervene directly. This led to a distance between the two children, with Amalia’s parents taking drastic steps to keep them apart.

Despite this early connection, Amalia dismissed the notion that their relationship was anything other than a childhood friendship. “In love?… I only knew love when I was much older,” she said, highlighting how, despite the romantic nature of Pope Francis’ gesture, there was no serious romantic relationship at play.

II. Pope Francis’ Vocations and the Impact of His Early Relationships

As Amalia Damonte pointed out, their childhood relationship was fleeting and did not extend into adulthood. However, she was taken aback when she learned that her childhood acquaintance had become the Pope. “I froze in front of the television,” Amalia admitted. “I couldn’t believe that Jorge was the Pope.” She described him as a wonderful person, someone she had always respected for his humility and honor. Yet, she emphasized that she had remained out of contact with him throughout his rise within the Church, and had followed his journey from a distance.

In their brief conversations during childhood, Jorge Mario Bergoglio had expressed an interest in a different path—one that eventually led him to the priesthood. Amalia recalled him telling her, “If I can’t marry you, I’ll become a priest.” Though it was said in jest, this declaration foreshadowed the life of sacrifice and service that Pope Francis would embrace.

For many years, his early decision to join the priesthood came in the wake of a personal sacrifice—his unrequited love for Amalia Damonte. While she ultimately moved on, married, and started a family, Bergoglio’s commitment to a religious life was unshaken. His eventual rise to the papacy was not part of his early aspirations, but instead, as his sister María Elena Bergoglio noted, “a blessing from God.” Pope Francis’ role as pope was not something he had ever actively sought, and the position seemed to come as a surprise even to him.