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"For six months, I went to her once a week to
shed light on certain things," the Argentine pontiff said in a
series of interviews with French sociologist Dominique Wolton,
extracts from which were published by Le Figaro on Friday.
"She was very good, very professional ... but she always
remained in her proper place," the 80-year-old said, adding he
was aged 42 at the time. "She helped me a lot."
The excerpts released did not name the psychoanalyst or explain
why the sessions had been originally set up. Francis said she
had called him when she was on the verge of death, "not for
sacraments, because she was Jewish, but for a spiritual
dialogue".
Francis, who has campaigned for a more open and inclusive
Catholic Church, criticized "rigid priests, who are afraid of
communicating".
"It is a kind of fundamentalism. When I come across someone
rigid, especially if they are young, I say to myself that they
are sick. In reality, they are looking for security."
The book, "Pope Francis: Meetings with Dominique Wolton,
Politics and Society" is due for publication by Les Editions de
L'Observatoire on Sept. 6.
(Reporting by Leigh Thomas, writing by Isla Binnie, editing by
Pritha Sarkar)
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