"I cannot fail today, St Valentine's Day, to think about and address my best wishes to engaged couples and those who are in love," Pope Francis said today.
"I accompany them with my prayers, and I bless them," he added.
The day has been marked since the fifth century in Rome. Valentine was a Romanian priest who was tortured in 269.
Roman Emperor Claudius banned young people's marriage, but priest Valentine did not obey his order and married couples stealthily. Later, he was tortured for his crime and beheaded.
