Cathal BarryPope Francis has given his seal of approval to Declan Donnelly’s marriage to agent Ali Astal. Declan, who is one half of TV duo ‘Ant and Dec’, was presented with a special framed certificate from Pope Francis at his wedding at the weekend.
During the ceremony, the groom’s brother, Fr Dermott Donnelly, presented the couple with the gift which said: “The Holy Father Francis cordially imports the requested apostolic blessing to Declan Donnelly and Alison Astall on the occasion of their marriage and through the intercession of the Virgin Mary invokes an abundance of divine graces.”
It is understood that the I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here host was minded for a time to join his older sibling in the priesthood. “It was something I thought I could do and maybe I should do,” he said, adding that he “went through the process” and realised that he “couldn’t do it”.