Lesley Joseph has revealed that an encounter with Pope Francis resulted in an amusing five-word response and everyone falling "about" laughing. The incident occurred when the 79-year-old Birds of a Feather star participated in the BBC's Pilgrimage: The Road To Rome in 2019, where she encountered the late Pope.
She recounted how she was treated to an audience with the pontiff as part of the filming, with the Pope kindly telling her that she didn't look her age, which at the time was 72. However, the Pope followed up with a five-word response after embracing her and planting a kiss on her cheek after their meeting, reports the Mail. Lesley said: "He burst out laughing and said, 'You still don't look 72'. At which point I put my arm on his arm and said, 'Oh, bless you!' Everybody fell about. 'I can't believe you've just blessed the Pope'."
It comes after the sad news that Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday, aged 88, from a cerebral stroke, which, according to the Vatican, led to a coma and irreversible heart failure.
It also revealed the Pope's final testament, which included the request that he be buried "in the ground, without particular ornamentation" but with "Franciscus" inscribed, reports Sky News.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, Pope Francis became the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church when he was elected as Pope back in 2013.
According to the Vatican, he died less than 24 hours after appearing in his wheelchair before worshippers in St Peter's Square as part of his Easter address, reports the BBC.
In a statement by the Vatican, Cardinal Kevin Farrell said he had "returned to the home of the Father". A statement added: "He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised."
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In 2024, Lesley made a devastating admission about the prospect of returning to her role as Dorien Green on Birds of a Feather, in which she starred alongside Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke.
The actress, who turns 80 in 2025, admitted that she doesn't know "how much longer" she has in the business. Although she's as "fit as a flea," there are a "few other things" she'd like to do before retirement.
Speaking to the Mirror, she said: "The older I get the more frightened I become of forgetting my lines and making a fool of myself in front of an audience. I think I'll know when the time is right for me to retire, but it's not today."
Lesley, whose mum lived to be an impressive 103-year-old, previously revealed what she thinks is the secret to ageing, saying in 2019 that it's all down to exercise.
She said: "The secret of ageing carefully and properly is exercise, both mental and physical."
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