The last time Fr Edward Mercieca, 74, saw the newly elected Pope was some 47 odd years ago when they played football as young men in Argentina.

Fr Merieca studied and lived at the same Jesuit seminary in Buenos Aires as Jorge Mario Bergoglio – now Pope Francis – from 1963 until 1966.

“I remember that he was very good at cracking jokes. He had a very strong personality – he always spoke his mind, Fr Mercieca said.

"He is, as he’s a very perceptive person and able to notice what’s happening around him.” 

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