(ANSA) - TODI (PERUGIA), APRIL 13 - "When the announcement of my decision was made on Sunday, I felt a sense of freedom, honesty and clarity": this is what the now former parish of the pastoral unit of San Felice di Massa speaks Martana, Don Riccardo Ceccobelli, who decided to leave the priesthood for love.
He speaks from inside the garage of his parents' house, in Pantalla, a fraction of Todi, after unloading his clothes and other personal items from the car, thus completing the move from his parish.
He has a conspicuous white patch on his left eye.
"It is the result of so much crying that made my eye irritate," he says.
Don Riccardo Ceccobelli - who started the procedures for his dismissal from the clerical state - reiterates that he "wants to live in love" with this woman he says he has known for at least four years, stressing that "the promise made to the bishop to be a priest until the end is not never failed "and never having transgressed the obligations established by his ministry.
"I started to feel a new feeling towards this woman only a few months ago, I don't know how it could have happened", he continues.
"I was amazed and frightened - he adds - by the love that came to me from within. It was a very hard decision to make to leave the priesthood".
Speaking of the future and the relationship with this young woman, Don Ceccobelli lets himself go with a joke: "At least let me start this relationship, up to now we have not even been engaged".
Don Riccardo is also surrounded by the deep affection of his family.
When his father Carlo is asked if he is happy with the choice made, the man replies without hesitation: "the decisions of the children are just accepted".
(HANDLE).
