VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis confessed Thursday that he took the rosary cross of his late confessor from his casket and wears it to this day in a fabric pouch under his cassock. He said he did so telling the late priest, “Give me half your mercy.”

Francis made the revelation Thursday during an informal chat with Roman priests about the need to be merciful to their flocks. He told the story of the “great confessor” of Buenos Aires who had heard confessions from most of the diocesan priests as well as from Pope John Paul II when he visited Argentina.

Recommended Stories

DOJ sends target letters to Marc Elias and other Democrats over decoy Dan Sullivan candidacy

Ketanji Brown Jackson accuses Catholic preschools of wanting ‘special rule’ to bar LGBT families in universal preschool case

DOJ charges Oklahoma man accused of mailing white powder to public officials before elections