Pope Francis Participates in Talk Show and Reveals Childhood Dream of Becoming a Butcher

Pope Francis has made his first appearance on an Italian television talk show. On Sunday evening, he shared his childhood aspirations on RAI's third channel, revealing that he once wanted to become a butcher, as well as mentioning his favorite author.

He recounted seeing a butcher's stall in the market, where the butcher had an apron tied around his waist with money tucked into the pocket. "And I said that I would like to become a butcher. When I was asked why, I replied, ‘Look how much money he has,’" remembered the son of Italian exiles who moved to Argentina.

Francis also noted that he had been captivated by chemistry, which drove him to consider becoming a doctor. "When I was 19, I was preparing to enroll in medical school, but when the time came for my vocation, I entered the seminary," the Pope said.

He referred to his sense of humor as a form of medicine and recalled a special prayer. During the interview, Pope Francis mentioned Fyodor Dostoevsky, whom he has often called his favorite writer. "There’s a question whose answer I have never been able to find: why do children suffer? But I have no answer; there is simply no answer. And to that question, I can only respond that we must suffer alongside them. In this, Dostoevsky was right," stated Pope Francis.

The Pope also explained why communication is essential for him: "I’m not that holy; I need people, which is why I don’t live in the Apostolic Palace. I have remained at ‘Santa Marta.’ I need friends; I don’t have many friends, but the ones I have are real. My friends help me, they know about my life, and I like being around friends. My friends give me strength," admitted the Pope.

He also shared his love for classical music and tango.