According to letters discovered by the BBC., Pope John Paul II had an intimate relationship with Polish philosopher Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka for 32 years.

There is no indication that the former pope ever broke his vow of celibacy, but the correspondence between the two sheds light on the depth of their relationship Pope John Paul II, when he was archbishop of Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka is said to have declared her love to the future Pope, Karol Wojtyła, while he was still a cardinal and there is the possibility that he struggled to come to terms with his feelings for her, reports Stephanie Kirchgaessner.

The BBC is airing a program about their relationship on BBC1 about their friendship, which began in 1973.

Read more at The Guardian