“My heart fell in love”: With those words the priest Don Riccardo Ceccobelli, priest of the diocese of Todi, in the center of Italy, announced that he hangs the cassock for love.

“My heart fell in love, I have never had a chance to betray the promises I made. But I want to try to live this love”, explained the priest Riccardo to his superior, Bishop Gualtiero Sigismondi, according to a press release from the diocese.

The priest, who related his story to the press on Tuesday, was suspended from service and began the procedures to return to the secular state, according to the same source.

“I am grateful to Don Riccardo for all the service he has provided so far. And first of all, I send you my sincere wishes so that this decision, taken in full freedom as he himself told me, guarantees you peace and serenity.” Declared Bishop Sigismondi.

The priest confessed that the decision was difficult because he loves and respects the Church.

“I cannot be consistent, transparent and correct with (the Church, ed) as I have been until now.” He confessed, according to the statement.

The ‘confession‘, in public, in front of his flock and his bishop, he did it during Sunday mass.

The identity of the woman for whom he hung the cassock has not been released.

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