Pope John Paul II was in 'intense' relationship with a married woman philosopher?

A Polish woman walks past a poster of the late Pope John Paul II in Krakow before his beatification ceremony in 2011. Photograph: Bela Szandelszky/AP

Hundreds of letters and photographs have revealed that Pope John Paul II was in a close relationship with a married woman. The relationship lasted more than 30 years.

According to BBC, the documents reveal a rarely seen side of the pontiff. He died in 2005.

The letters to American philosopher Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka were away from public view in the National Library of Poland for years.

Pope John Paul II's friendship with the womwn began in 1973 when she contacted the future Pope, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, then Archbishop of Krakow, about a book on philosophy that he had written.

Initially, the letters were formal, but as their friendship grew, they become more intimate.

Reportedly, they met many times. Sometimes with his secretary present while sometimes alone.

However, there is no suggestion the Pope broke his pledge of celibacy.