"You're going to have to wait for a while." "Sorry, sister there's someone who needs me urgently." "I'm right here." "Good Lord, the bleeding's stopping, Father" "Isn't that what you came for?" "It's not recent." "It's been at least five years." "You'd better leave, Father." "They're here again." " Come and see me again." " You'd better go." "The police are here." "A DUBIOUS SAINT" "This is impossible, Father." "It cannot go on." "These activities have become public knowledge." "It's not only the yellow press that is writing about you but now the police are after you too." "You're running away like a thief and that is unworthy of your investiture." "Didn't you stop to think that your obstinacy is harming the Church?" "You should be thankful that the police haven't begun proceedings against us as we were lucky enough to stop it in time." "I never imagined the acts of a humble priest could harm the Church so much." "Are you making fun of me, Father?" "I wouldn't dare, Monsignor." "Do you realise that you are practicing medicine illegally?" "But I don't heal, I don't prescribe medicines, I don't do operations." "I don't actually do anything, Monsignor I give blessings, that's all." " Is that all?" " That's all." "So why do so many sick people come to see you every day?" "Just to receive your blessing?" "What's the secret?" "No, you are totally incorrigible." "Like Jonah." "That's not funny." "It is our duty to stop people being deceived, or our poorest brothers" "being exploited in the name of religion." "So, the Church will have to act if you repeat your acts of disobedience." "Then you'll have to dismiss the guy up above" "Get down on your knees!" "On the floor, Father!" "You are sick with arrogance!" "And now you want to emulate Jesus." "That's not what I meant, Monsignor." "Reluctantly, I shall have to punish you." "I hope this will lead you to reflect." "Help me with this side." "It doesn't fit." "Hey, Tano, what's up?" "You're very late." "Hey, what a state!" "Go and see a doctor." "And you're still smoking" "Give me a break, Giacomo." "I've come to get my things." "I'm leaving." " What?" " I'm leaving." " What do you mean?" "And all those people waiting for you out there?" " It's over." "There'll be no more blessings." "I've been suspended." "I don't care." "You can still say mass here, do you hear?" "But I can't keep involving you in this." "You've already done too much for me." "The last thing we need now is for them to start on you." "Hang on, Tano!" "What about all the people?" "Shall I send them to Arizaga?" "Why not?" "That's not a bad idea." "Tell them I'm in Italy, that I'm a conman, that all I do is trick people." "For all we know, Arizaga might be right." "Tano, listen, why don't you get a qualification so they leave you alone?" " Please, Father..." " Get off my back." "Those people aren't going to leave." "Leave me alone, go on." "Go and pray for me." " I love you, Tano" " I love you too." "Go on, Giacomo, go on" "Excuse me, please excuse me." "When I die I don't want any of this." "I don't want to be cut up like a cow." "But if the cause of death is in doubt or you're murdered, you've had it." "I'll even put it in my will as my last wish." "But if the law or the police have a hand in it, there's no escape." "Hello, Father." "Why are you hiding there?" "Are you not coming in?" "Not today." "Going to bed early?" "There are people waiting to see you, and a woman." "Tell them I can't tonight." "Apologise for me." " You're not coming with us then?" " I'm too tired today, guys." "Bye" "Lord, I beg forgiveness for believing that I have been granted a special gift" "I do not deserve and will never deserve." "I renounce this false belief." "I am the clumsiest, most inept of all your children." "What I am to you, Lord?" "I beg you to tell me what I must do." "Show me a sign, Lord." "Is there anybody here?" "Is that you, Father?" " Are you Father Mario Pantaleo?" " Yes, I am." "There's a lady looking for you." "I'm Perla, I don't know if you remember..." "How could I forget?" "Thanks, guys, for bringing the lady over." "Next time you invite someone over, Father, get them a taxi." "What possessed you to bring the cops here, ma'am?" " Forgive me, Father..." " I'll think about it." "How are you feeling?" "The doctors can't believe the bleeding's stopped." " See?" "What did I tell you?" " How do you do it, Father?" "I don't do anything." "It's Him up there who does it..." "I just give a blessing." " So, do you like my church?" " Yes, it's lovely." " It's a very original site for a church." " Just imagine it finished..." "Two hundred belltowers here..." "two hundred bells all ringing together" " a little out of step to make a melody..." " Two hundred bells, here?" "Well, I'll make do with one, but with a beautiful bell tower." " Do you own the land?" " Yes, I do." "A lady told me I could use the land" " But did you get her to sign something, a piece of paper?" " No " "But Father, how can you build a chapel on land you don't even know is yours?" "But who's going to claim it?" "I'm not going to steal it or take it with me." "But how are the people going to travel so far to see you, Father?" "Ah, no!" "I don't attend people anymore I've retired" "and that's why I like this place." "Who's going to come this far?" " Why are you running away, Father?" " I'm not running away" "I don't want to have any more to do with this." "I want to be a priest like all the others a good one with a sacristan, an altar boy, with weddings" "a mate in the morning, just like anybody else." "It's getting dark." "Too dark for me to leave, I mean." "Can I spend the night here?" "This is no place for you, ma'am." "Well, it doesn't matter... don't worry, I can walk to the bus stop" "I may even bump into the cops who can give me a lift." "The cops" "I'm not going to take your bed, Father." "Be quiet and put your things here." "Don't worry about me, I'm like a cat and can settle anywhere." " There's cheese and sausage in the kitchen, so eat what you like" "Thanks." "Until tomorrow, sleep well." "Oh Lord, bless this bread, the fruit of man's labour bless oh Lord this wine chalice of the eternal alliance." "Did you sleep well?" "Do you always get up so early, Father?" "Have you seen the sky at this time?" "It's worth getting up early." "Well, in a while you'll be able to leave." "I'll accompany you to the bus stop." "No." "I want to stay with you." "I don't know if these things help when a patient is in a critical condition" "I believe that faith is of use if it is based on science." "With religious charms alone we can't do anything..." "Excuse me, Mr Spagnuolo?" " Yes, that's me, Mr Spagnuolo." " Ah, pleased to meet you." "You don't know me but I've been enquiring... and I'm interested in a plot of land." "I understand it belongs to you." " What plot of land?" " Look, this one here." "Sorry." "The one in González Catán." " Look lady, that land's not worth a thing." " I like it, it looks real." "What do you want it for?" "To tell you the truth, Mr Spagnuolo, it's to do certain acts of charity." "Hey, you're no Vatican agent, are you?" "See that black flag up there lady?" "Yes, it's very pretty." "That's the flag of the libertarians, of the anarchists." "We're anti-Curia." "My family was expelled from Italy for that flag, lady." "That's terrible!" " So you have nothing to do with the Church?" " What makes you think that?" "Well, what do you want it for?" "I thought that we could build a place for people to meet, to feel good." "A brothel?" "We could say so." "Well why didn't you say so, lady?" "I get you now eh, you naughty girl..." " So what do you say if we talk about" " There'll be no problem, gorgeous." "Free love, Comrade!" "Against the oppression of matrimony." "Excuse me, sir." "I'm looking for Father Mario." "I hear the church is round here." " Father Mario doesn't attend any more." " What do you mean?" "Why?" "Damn, this is dreadful" " Sorry..." " But tell me how to find him." "Perhaps he can see my son..." "Forget Father Mario and see a doctor." "The doctors can't do any more for him..." "Do you know him?" "Why won't you tell me where I can find him?" " Please believe me, lady." " It's you isn't it?" "I'm sure it's you." "Why do you refuse, Father?" "Please help me!" "What's his name?" "Valentín, Father." " The doctors want to try out a new bone marrow treatment." " Be quiet!" "Take that out, he won't be needing it any more." "Father Mario!" " Father Mario, where are you!" " Here." "I'm up here." "What are you doing up there!" "What are you up to?" "Get down." "You'll kill yourself one of these days." " Imagine, a priest doing such things." " I used to be a bricklayer, ma'am." " Come with me, come with me." " What's the matter?" "Take off your cassock and I'll wash it." "Sit down, I have something to tell you." " I'll wash it today but that's not why I'm here." " No, alright, I know." " Good." "Just look at the state of it..." " No, leave it..." "It's not that dirty." "Well, I have something for you, a surprise." "Open it." "Here you have the land you needed" " It's ours?" "It's truly ours?" " Yes." "But what's wrong, Father?" "There are no two ways about it we still need the Incardination." "What's that?" "The official permission of the Church to say mass." "The Sanctification." "It's hard to get outside the Nunciature." "We'll get it!" "But don't get up on that roof again, you could get hurt and I don't want that." "Well, I mean all of us who love you, those who need you to continue healing, Father." "I'm not going to let you in." "I'm the head caretaker and I won't let you." " But how can I get upstairs?" " Any way you like, but not in the lift." " Disgraceful." " How can she get upstairs if she can't use the lift?" "Not in the lift." "The Committee doesn't want wheelchairs in the lift." "You deserve a thrashing, but I'm not going to be the one to give it to you." "Hold it, Father." "Don't take it out on me." "I'm only obeying orders." " Put her on my back." " People are tired of all this." "This is no hospital." "I'm constantly cleaning with disinfectant." "Who cares?" "You know what?" " Tell the Committee to stuff their lift up" " No, Father, don't " "Take your patient, go on and don't come it with me, Father." "Stop all this or we'll report you all." "We know perfectly well what you're up to up there." "Why this constant pain?" "Father, if you take from me this little light that shines on me..." "And what if everything ends one day?" "Father Mario?" "Yes." " I need you to see me..." " Now?" "No, I can't." " I've been waiting for hours." " You'll have to come back another day." " No." "You have to see me today." " Why didn't you see me upstairs?" "They said there were no more numbers, they practically threw me out they were so rude." "Is that how they treat people here?" "Let me tell you I don't believe in you one bit." "I can see you're a fraud a conman who plays on the good faith of the people." "Ah yes..." "So why have you come to see me?" "I know a lady who's very ill." "She's suffering a great deal." "The doctors say they can't do anything." "She was the one who asked me to come and see you." " What's your name?" " Silvia." "Did you bring a photo?" "Give me it." "Why did you take so long to come?" " Here you are." "That's it." " What?" "What do you mean, that's it?" "It has attacked her chest, and spread a bit, but her liver is fine." "It'll be hard but I think we can still do something." "She'll pull through." " Are you telling me the truth, Father?" " Relax." "She's not just anyone she's your mother." "More than pretty, the poor thing was like a wild animal." "She gave me a mouthful, she was like a thing possessed." "She must have been desperate, Father." "I know full well what it means to feel like that." "You, a wild animal?" "You're too sweet to be a wild animal." "Right now I am, but you didn't know me in the past, Father" "Weren't you happy with your family?" "Yes, I was happy and very unhappy too." "I'm sorry, Fkather, I can't speak about my past very much" "I can't talk about the pain of my sickness, of my family." "Don't you miss your children?" "My children are grown up, they don't need me..." "And your husband?" "That part of my life is over, Father." "Now I've found my essence" "I know I can care for myself" "I can help those who need me" "I can be of use, I can have hopes or a better life." "I have dreams like everybody else and perhaps now I can fulfil them" "And do you know who I have to thank for that?" "You, Father." "I can't thank you enough." "Thank you." "Saint Augustine... chapter eight..." ""Why does pleasure seek in the actions of the senses... why does pleasure always seek beauty, harmony, gentleness, softness, taste..." "Oh, God, oh love that burns, why does your torch never go out?"" "Father..." "Father..." "Saint Augustine..." "Father Mario!" "What are you doing there?" "What are you doing?" "I was having a quick wash." "Look away otherwise I won't be able to come out..." " Watch out it'll collapse!" " What?" "It'll collapse." "What did I say?" "Collapse" "Come along, I'll help you." "Don't get angry." "My mother's dead, Father!" "Why the hell did you give me hope?" "Why did you con me, swindler?" " Your mother was very ill." "I know how you're feeling..." " No, no, no..." "You don't know what I feel, you don't know how I feel." "Has your mother died?" "What do you know?" "Tell me what the fuck you know!" "I am not God, forgive me..." "So ?" "How can you be say you have powers?" "Why con people, you crook?" "You are a conman." "I am not God, child..." "Of course you're not God, bastard." "Course you're not God." "Son of a bitch." "Leave me alone." "Bastard." "Go away, go away." "God, forgive me my arrogance" "Oh, Lord, forgive me for making those who trust me suffer." " Ema, run those analyses again." " We already have, doctor." "I don't know what saint you pray to, but don't give up:" "The bone marrow is now responding." "So, Father, you're not going to say anything in your own defence?" "What do you want me to say, officer?" "For a start, what do all those people want from you?" "They're friends, people who need solace." "Friends, uh?" "Are you qualified, Father, qualified to work... to attend so many friends?" " I need no qualification to do what I do." " You don't?" "What I'm doing is spiritual." "I'm a priest." "In the Curia nobody spoke in your favor, Father." "Nobody justifies your activities." "Besides, they even frown on you..." "Do you know what, Father?" "In Argentina, the days of corruption are gone." "I could have you for illegal practice of medicine and get you in trouble." " A phone call for you, Sergeant." " Let them wait!" "It's official, boss..." "I think it's someone from the top..." "Hello yes, it's me." "Nice to yes, sir... indeed, sir." "He's here... well, I..." "Yes, I understand;" "yes, you're right well, I'd heard something, but I didn't know that you too." "Yes, yes, I understand..." "Sorry, but was he cured?" " Sixty-one... sixty-two" " Sixty-one, here I am." "Pantaleo, José Mario Pantaleo." "I've come to enrol." " You're the one who..." " That's right, it's me." " What course would you like to enrol on, Father?" " Psychology." " Psychology?" "I don't understand..." " Psychology." "Psychology" "My qualification's from the seminary, legalised by the Foreign Ministry." "I wanted to know how many subjects you'll accept as valid" "I'll find out straight away, Father." "One moment please." " Father, it is an honor to you here." " Thank you." "The honor is mine." " But why psychology, Father?" " What do you mean?" "It is not compatible with your position as a priest and a man of the Church" "It is not compatible with your position as a priest and a man of the Church familiar with the mysteries of theology and the sacred sciences" "Don't worry, man, there's nothing in the priesthood to prevent me." "I'll be frank with you, Father." "I see that you have a profound humanistic formation and have given seminars on History, Thomism and pre-Socratic schools." "Why get yourself mixed up in such things, Father?" "They're all atheists, materialists." "You need a qualification, don't you?" "Well, we have courses in Philosophy, History or Aristotelian Logic if you like but Psychology?" "Sociology, Modern Maths..." "Who's seen a binary number?" "Not me" "There's no future in those courses, Father." "What can I say ?" " I'll be the first Freudian priest." "Father Mario..." " That's me." " I've been waiting for you." "I need to speak to you, Father." " What's your name, son?" " Javier, Father." "And what brings you here?" "Anguish." "I've just been ordained in the Salesian College at Alta Gracia." "Alta Gracia?" "Well, well..." " I was there once." " Really?" "I spent some years there when I was a child" "Pay no attention..." "Carry on." "I love the priesthood, but at times it's as if that Church doesn't exist." "Shhh, we may think those things but we shouldn't speak about them, kid..." "Believe me, Father, my faith is stronger than ever" " but I want to give up." " Why?" "I need to believe in a Church with the faith and mysticism of the early days." "With no bureaucracy where miracles are possible." "But the problem is in the bishopric." "What's wrong?" "I've been accused of arrogance, lying and rebellion..." "So I requested a transfer but didn't get it." "I ran away, Father and here I am." "I'm looking for a new Church" "Only God is due blind obedience." "Nobody else, Javier" "What's your advice, then?" "What should I do?" "The first thing you're going to do is contact Córdoba." "They must be worried." "And while you're sorting out those problems with your superiors you can stay here with us." "Thank you, Father." "That was what I needed to hear." "So the Salesians, Alta Gracia" "Father Javier, this is Perla." "Father will be staying with us for a while." "This may well be a sign, uh?" " This is Maria Esther, Father." " Pleased to meet you." "How are you?" "How do you do?" "Please, pull that down, will you?" "That's right." "Don't worry, I'll just pass my hands over you a few times." "And what does your boyfriend think?" " I don't have a boyfriend..." " Don't you?" "What are you waiting for?" "You're not going to get one lying in bed like that, eh..." " Good." "You're going to get well, love." " With your help, Father..." "I'll help you but you must promise that you'll help yourself too, right?" "There's nothing at all malignant here." "There's no metastasis." "I suggest stopping the chemo or it'll reduce her defences to zero..." "Man's expulsion from the maternal bosom is premature." "He'll need the assistance of his mother for a long while yet." " Sorry." " Yes, Javier, come in." "What do you need?" "Nothing, Father." "Excuse me." "Good night." "Those images come to greet me when I awake, but in dreams they... just don't bring pleasure." "They consent to something like the real act." "There's a big difference between myself when I pass from wakefulness to sleep and my personal self when I pass from sleep to wakefulness." "Which am I?" "Which is the real one?" "The one who passes on this side or on the other..." "Am I the one who writes or the other who even in dreams commits degrading acts, moved by images which are so like the act itself that they can cause bodily emissions without my will consenting to it." "Saint Augustine." "Confessions." "A beautiful text, Father, I didn't know it." "Fourth and fifth centuries..." "before Freud..." "He's a childhood friend." "Sorry, Perla, I didn't mean to scare you..." "I came in to see if you had clothes to wash, as I'm doing Father's..." "No, don't worry." "I'll take care of my clothes..." " thank you all the same." " Not at all." "Well" "Sorry." "Let me know whatever you need." "What a tiger!" "Why not use the car?" "I have some great news for you, Father!" "Calm down." "Throw away your cigarette first, are you listening carefully?" "Yes" " I bet you can't guess what happened..." " What happened?" "They've removed the Bishop!" "Monsignor Arizaga has resigned." " Oh, really?" " Yes!" " Now they'll give us the Incardination!" " Let's hope so, let's hope so." "But what's wrong?" "You don't look very happy" "Who's to replace Arizaga?" "I am writing to His Excellency to notify him that I consider priest Mario Pantaleo to be a pious, simple and exemplary man." "He is erecting a beautiful church for the poor children of González Catán." "I would be so grateful, Monsignor, if you could see him in person." "Forever yours." "Father Giacomino." "So you are how can we say a healer?" "Is that right, Father?" "They say you have special gifts..." " Just an infinite faith in God's will." " False modesty is a form of arrogance..." "Many important people have spoken of your marvellous virtues..." "I have always believed that the job of a priest is not to be a bureaucrat and that is why I was quite happy to take these risks, Monsignor..." " And you never intended to reap the benefit of it?" " Never." " Lf God would free me of this cross." " Others would envy you, Father..." "But, why do you say that?" "But, why do you say that?" "Because it's often brought me more problems than benefits." "You are well aware that miracles, cures and other inexplicable phenomena were discredited by the Hierarchy as manifestations of fetishism." "Mine is a mandate, Monsignor." "It is not a question of choice." "Are you forbidding me?" "Not at all, Mario, may I call you so?" "Your ministry has my full support." "Thank you, Monsignor, but that's not quite the reason I came here..." "I know, I know you're worried about the Incardination, isn't that so?" " Yes." "You see, the work depends on..." " Isn't there a woman living with you?" "She doesn't live with me." " She's a great benefit for the church, an extraordinary woman." " I know." "Nobody doubts the mission you have..." " What else did Arizaga tell you?" " Calm down, there's no hurry." "We'll think of something to get your permission as quickly as possible." "And don't get angry with Monsignor Arizaga." "The delay is not his fault..." "You're too anxious, Father, and the Church moves at a different pace." "It wouldn't have survived 2000 years, otherwise, what with all the intrigue the treason, and Arizaga is not to blame for that." "Where are you going, Father?" "Are you in a hurry?" "I assumed we'd said all there was to say." "Father, come and eat, it's getting cold." "He never eats with us." "Why don't you ask him in, uh?" "Don't you think giving him somewhere to sleep is enough?" "Sorry." "He's gone." "Javier has a great vocation, you know?" "He has a very special nature, and does more than anyone in the mission." "He has a future, he's not just one more." "Yes, we agree there, he's not just one more, Father." "I'm sorry but from the moment I saw him I felt a certain rejection..." "I don't know, distrust, feminine intuition I can't explain." "Who knows?" "Nobody knows" "Be a little patient with her, kid." "Father, thank you for all you're doing but I don't want to cause problems." "Perla doesn't like me and she's very important for the church." "She's a good woman but a little possessive." "She'll get over it." "I don't want to upset you." "I'm an extra burden here you don't deserve." "The best thing is for me to leave." " Where'll you go?" "Who'll take you in?" " As you say, God will provide." " I'm 22:" "I can get by." " You're not going anywhere, you're staying here." "Let's not invent problems cause there aren't any." "There's no problem at all" "Father, why don't you tell me your famous theory of vibrations..." "If it's all the same to you, sir, I'd prefer to talk about something else..." "But I insist, take it as a free topic." "We'd love to hear your theory..." "Well, my theory it's not my theory, but well" "The West that has prioritised reason as an exclusive source of knowledge." "But in the Orient, intuition is seen as another source of knowledge." " Intuition?" " Yes, intuition." "Thanks to perception without the use of reason we are able to know and the power of the human conscience, became atrophied in the West." "But it did not disappear, and continues to exist." "In the East, it is still applied to remedy different bodily conditions." "Could you be a little clearer about this mechanism, Father?" "The human body is a mass of energy in constant evolution." "It regenerates itself it is born and dies transforming its own cellular structure." "And this process logically causes different levels of energy." "If we observe the body of a patient, we can feel those energy variations." "It's like decomposing an orchestra and hearing each individual instrument." "And if you would allow me, sir, I would suggest we train the ear to hear which instrument is out of tune, uh?" "That way we can detect energy crises in the damaged parts of the body." "So that's how you heal, Father." "No, I don't heal, I perceive, that's all." "There are times I can't do anything, and I say so." "I don't do anything." "I'm the guitar." "The guitarist is Him up there." "Don't be so modest, Father, what you do is very important..." "But it wasn't me who chose to be there." "I'm not as stupid as to believe myself to be unique, sir" "You mean you were called to do this?" "Is that what you mean?" "Yes, that's right." "And when did you become aware of this important task, Father?" "Tell us all because we're very interested..." " I became aware when I didn't become aware..." " I don't understand." "I'm not surprised." "Contradiction sweeps away logic, but it's the engine of life." "Sir, heaven and hell are here, inside, not out there." "And our duty in life is to make ourselves a paradise." "That's my goal and I assume it's yours too." " That's what the Existentialists say..." " Ah, you caught me out sir but I'm not going to say that Christ was the first existentialist... oh, no but careful, I know Sartre, Camus and all them." "I've read them and I also know ancient Greek togar auto inies quintecaiea for the same thing is for thinking and for being togar auto inie estintecaneia, Parmenides." "Why do you want to study Psychology?" "So I can apply it as I damn well please, sir." "I don't write prescriptions or interpret or touch the sick people, but you see there's always one who shows off by asking awkward questions." "Don't worry" "I know what I'm doing, and I know what I'm not able to do." "I know I'm honest, and I know I'm telling the truth." "But between you and me, the truth is:" "Who's to say I'm not a mischievous imp?" "Don't you think, son?" " How do you find her Father?" " Silence!" " She'll get better, but I need to see her once a week." " Father..." " I'd like to speak to you in private..." " Say it here, please." "My name is Victor, Father." "I'm Jewish and I'm not thinking of converting." "Nobody's asking you to convert, Victor." "Nobody." "Thanks for coming, and for having hope in what I can do." "This is my first time in a synagogue, would you believe?" "I've wanted to enter one ever since I was a child, but never dared." "The number of times that Jesus must have attended this same ritual!" "Doesn't it move you to imagine Him leaving the temple with people like us?" "Father, was it necessary to come in disguise?" "What?" "I wasn't going to come in my cassock, no, no" "That would make it an official visit." "No, it's better like this..." "Come on!" " Put them in Mario Pantaleo's name..." " Father Mario?" "Yes, I work with him, I give him a hand with his studies." "He's about to graduate as a psychologist, you see." "Where do I sign?" "Right here, with your document number, please." "Tell Father Mario I believe in him." "Thank you very much." "Here you are." "Thank you." "Excuse me." "You know who I am, don't you?" "You may refuse to look at me, but I know that you know who I am." "I want to tell you something, you know, as if you were my daughter." "I was ill some time back." "I was so ill that the doctors had practically given up on me." "I felt alone, so alone, and let nobody get near me not even my family." "Perhaps you are feeling now what I felt..." "And he cured me!" "He gave me new hope..." "I know what you're going to say... what use is that to me if he couldn't do anything for my mother?" "But he's not a magician he's a man, like any other" "he's not infallible, nobody is... but there is something special in him." "And you know it because you placed your hope in him." "And he did what he had to do, but that time it wasn't possible." "I don't know, God didn't want..." "But he doesn't deserve your hate, you know?" "Don't hate him." "He's trying to do good and I'm trying to help him." "But at times I feel we are so alone..." "Because God sometimes grants his love, like the love I feel for him" "I don't know what I'm saying." "Please forgive me." "Can I come in?" " Am I disturbing you?" " No, no, I was finishing, Father." "I was writing a diary, a sort of register of emotions." " Would you like to see it?" " No, no." " I was going for a walk and thought you'd like to come." " Yes, of course." "The thing is that attending a ceremony from another religion moved him so." "He wasn't moved by a desire to mock, money or any other personal interest." "But I must emphasise the danger for the Church in this type of episode that is so far removed from its pastoral mission." "I wish to be removed from this mission that is a painful personal commitment." "May God have mercy on our souls." "Your servant, Jonah." "What's wrong with this?" "Alessandri won't be deciding the Incardination." "The Bishop of the diocese where you were ordained has to give permission." " Monsignor De Santis..." " Yes" " Monsignor De Santis it says here." " Shut up!" "I can't concentrate!" " These ravens are trying to thwart me..." " Don't say that, Mario." "Ravens are not as bad as them." "That's it!" "I've healed you!" "I just don't believe them." "I know why they're doing this to us." " Don't be so pessimistic, will you?" " No, it's the same old story." " What went on between you and De Santis?" " Just kids' stuff." "He never forgave me ignoring him and leaving Italy." "So?" "It's a long story, Giacomo" "Arizaga was recruiting young priests in Italy to bring to Buenos Aires." " And so?" " What do you mean?" "I didn't ask De Santis' permission." "I went to ask Father Pío's advice, and came." "That really got De Santis." "And he never forgave me." "And now they say I have to request the Incardination from De Santis!" "Where are they sending me?" "Out of the frying pan into the fire!" "Lucky for me and lucky for you" "Pantaleo, José Mario" "Hey, kid!" "Giacomino!" "Good luck to you, Mario!" "Thanks." " Father!" "Are you happy?" " About this?" "This is a piece of paper" "I'm happy for you..." " I've got nothing to do with it." " You were sent to me by God, my lady." "And this situation you being with me all the time, by my side, like this" "it's like a bed of roses for me..." "Oh, Father, it's easier than you think." "I need you." "And I believe you need me." " The last toast." " The last one, uh?" "To life!" "To life." " Congratualtions!" " Oh, guarda!" "Che bella luce" " Hey!" "It's an enormous star..." " Yes, one that moves from side to side." " It's a good sign." " It's a helicopter." "What do you mean, a helicopter?" "It's a star." "It could be a flying saucer..." " Yes!" "It's a helicopter." "That's not a good sign." " No, it's not a good sign." "With your permission, I'm going to bed." "Congratulations once again, Father." "Thanks." " Good night, sleep well." " Good night." "Sleep well, son." "Who could that be at this time?" "No I'll go." "I can stretch my legs, too." "Who is it?" " It's Silvia, Father..." "Remember me?" " Yes, of course and what are you doing here?" "This is Daniel... he's a friend." "He needs somewhere to spend the night..." "Just one night, that's all." "You don't believe me we heard the planes and all dived under the table." "At one moment there were seven priests under the table, praying." "My God!" "Javier, I was going to fetch you." "I want you to meet two friends..." " Daniel." " Daniel, a young seminarist." "Good evening." " Silvia, an old friend." " Pleased to meet you." "This is Father Javier." "They're going to spend the night here." "Please find them somewhere to sleep." "Of course." "They can have my room tonight." " What will you do?" " I'll make do in the shed." "Don't worry, Father." " I'll leave it with you then?" " Yes, of course." "Come with me." "Excuse me." "Sleep well, kids." "This way." "You go to bed, dear." "I'll keep watch." "You'd better pray." "Oh!" "Thanks." " What for, love?" " Thanks." " Oh, why do you always get involved?" " The kids are leaving early tomorrow." " You're not afraid?" " They came after Jesus too." "When he was born, they wanted to slit his throat but someone protected him." "I'm worried about Javier, you know." "I don't mean to think ill but how do they know all we do in the diocese?" "Father" "I think he's betraying you." "No no." "If he were, it would be hell for him, poor kid." "That's why I want him here with me." "I can't leave him now." "We are aware of your current situation, Father." "We know all the trouble you've been having with the Archbishopric." "But the question..." "look, I prefer to go straight to the point" "Can we rely on you?" "I'm not bluffing." "It would be very important for us if we could." "What do you think, Javier?" "We're all aware of the situation of the Church today:" "There are those who defend the Institution, who have sided with power with an aseptic vision of religion." "And then there are those who see the need for change." "So what side are you on, kid?" "Your side, Father..." "I'm glad to hear it." "I... what can I say I'm a bit of an old-fashioned priest" "I love the cassock." "It sounds like an anachronism but that's how it is " "No, that's fine." "I like it too, Father and I like the first morning mass" "but I don't like the smell of candles when they burn out..." "Difficult times lie ahead, Father." "And we can't be with God and the devil at the same time." "No, of course not but what I do is assistance." "I soothe individual pain as much as I can." "I am here if the other is too." "But I understand them, and respect them, because I see that a plate of food is often worth more than a prayer!" "But I don't believe in the struggle" "I believe in persuasion and that's what I fight for." "It's a question of method" "They're gone, Father they've disappeared." "Poor things they've been taken away." "I told you so, Father, they've been taken away" "One moment!" "Come in." "I want to confess, Father." "They've been taken away." "Father, I believe in you." "But I want you to know that so far I've been lying to you." "I've been betraying you all this time." "I've been passing on information every day." "That's why I was sent here." "I knew it." "Why did you let me stay?" "Why didn't you tell me before?" "Why should I have told you?" "Why should I have told you?" "Wasn't it you who needed me?" "I've been expecting this for some time." "Aren't you going to punish me?" "Was it you?" "Speak, boy, was it you?" "Was it you?" "!" "No!" "No, Father, no!" "I swear it wasn't, Father, no!" "It wasn't me, it wasn't me!" "I didn't give you away!" "I swear." "It wasn't me." "I love you, Father." "I couldn't go on betraying you." "I love you, I swear." "Oh, my boy... it's not easy to believe you." "Haven't you seen Javier?" "No, Father, I haven't seen him." "But don't worry." "He must be OK." "He's done his job and must've returned to the place he shouldn't have left." " Can I ask a favor?" " Yes." "Don't send people in for a while." "I need to rest." "I'll be back soon." " Guys, haven't you seen Father Javier?" " He left very early, boss." " Where was he going?" " That way" " Are you joining us?" " No, no, not now." "Haven't you seen Father Javier?" "Yes, he went off towards the gravel pit." "No!" "No, son, no!" "My son!" "But what am I doing here?" "When are they going to take all this off?" "I feel fine" "They'll take it off as soon as you shut your mouth!" "See, my dear?" "I can't even heal myself now." "If you really wanted to, you could." "Have a little sleep, come on, behave." " Madam, madam, please wake up." " I fell fast asleep!" "What's wrong?" " He's not here, madam." " Who's not here?" " Father Mario." " What do you mean he's not here?" "But Father, what are you doing here?" "Why did you run away?" "You're going to scare me to death." "If anything happens to you, I'll kill you." "Why did you run away?" "I reported you missing." "The police are looking for you." "The cops again" " All you do is turn me in, dear." " It's no laughing matter." "What am I going to do in hospital?" "I feel fine." "There's no time to lose." "Look at all the things there are to be done!" " But Father, the doctors say" " What do doctors know?" "They just deceive you!" " And starve you to death" " What a dreadful thing to say!" "The truth is that I ran away because I was missing some spicy sausage" " Don't talk rubbish, please." " Don't get upset with me." "Don't get angry with this poor priest." "You know, I've been thinking." "I spent the night thinking" "It's time to return." " Where to?" " To Italy." "I have to leave for Italy right now." "To go and see him." " See who?" " De Santis, who do you think?" " And find him any way we can." " But so suddenly?" "I don't have much time." "During the night in my hospital bed, I was thinking What an idiot!" "What a stupid idiot I am!" "To die like this without having a proper church!" "No!" "No!" "Good evening, Monsignor." "If I'd requested an audience, I'm sure you wouldn't have granted me one." "That's why I'm here." " Would you like a drink, Pantaleo?" " Yes, thank you." "I'm glad you remember me, Monsignor." "Still as rebellious as ever, uh?" "Sit down." " Thank you." " What will you have?" " Why are you here?" " For the Incardination for my church." " You have it." "It's in your hands." " Really?" "I have hundreds of letters here, Monsignor." "People from the Church who are willing to testify, important people ...artists, intellectuals." "I don't care one bit about your letters!" "Put them in your private collection..." "Besides, they can harm you:" "The Church is no democracy, my dear Father." "Why are you so hard on me?" "Why do you say that?" "The days of miracles in the Church have passed." "Miracles don't exist, we have no further use for the supernatural." "In fact, it's a nuisance, nobody understands, people ask questions." "Miracles have gone out of fashion, dear Pantaleo." "Now is the time for rationalism..." "Computers, satellites, bank accounts." "Don't you agree that those are the true miracles?" "No, I don't Monsignor." "You always were an idealist." "Do you remember when you left?" "You were my John the Apostle." "The young Pantaleo, the jewel in the seminary, a brilliant future but... you didn't want to listen..." "You paid no attention, you were the rebel angel" " you went to get the advice of..." "...of Father Pío." "He also believed in miracles, like you, with all that stigma stuff." "That was forty years ago, Monsignor!" "Who remembers that now?" "What's forty years for the Church, my friend, compared to two thousand?" "You blink and forty years have passed." "It's as if it were yesterday." " Father Pío was a saint." " A charlatan, as you call him." "Don't say that..." " No, it's just another point of view." " Another point of view, my arse!" "May God forgive me my language." "That's another Church." "Have you come across anyone who remembers your Father Pío?" "It was hard but we were able to get rid of him." "This is a more modern Church, more interested in social affairs." "It's as if you were talking of a political party, Monsignor." "And why not?" "If that's how you want to look at it..." "Nobody expects miracles from us now." "But I bear you no ill feeling..." "So you can see there are no hard feelings ...if you want your Incardination for your church so much... if you want it so badly, there's always a way." "Of course I want it." "What do I have to do?" "Recant." "I can't do that, Monsignor." "It would mean betraying many people..." "And nobody more than myself." "So the little priest from Pistoia still believes he has divine powers." "I cannot renounce, because this is how the Lord revealed Himself to me..." "Father Pío will sign the Incardination, if he can still perform miracles." "Go and get your lungs seen to, Father." "It's too damp for so much hope." "This is my house, it's my house." "Well, let's see who lives here now." " Who is it?" " You do the talking, please." "I can't speak." "Excuse me, madam, good afternoon." "We've come from Argentina..." "I'm here with a priest who is looking for the house where he was born..." "Could we come in?" "But this is a convent, madam." "We are an enclosed order." " Wait what's the Father's name?" " Pantaleo, Mario Pantaleo." "It could be because that's the name written on one of the walls..." "I told you so" "He's a priest, Sister." "Can he go in?" " Hold on while I call the Mother Superior..." " Thank you so much." "So who is this blessed priest?" "Mario, Sister, the son of Enrico and Ida Melani, brother to Inesina..." " So you must be Mario." " Yes." "Inesina always used to talk about the boy with the curls!" "Come in, dear!" "Come in." "I understand but... you can't come in like that, Father." "Just a minute, Mother." "It's very important for him." " But we are an enclosed order." "You can't come in." " I know." "Sorry." "I came into this world at a bad time, you know?" "There is nothing worse than being born during a war." "I believe that's why my parents never loved me they weren't expecting me" "I was no gift from heaven, I was unwanted, and with asthma to boot." "My father was a rich man." "But the war took everything away, everything..." "And like so many others, we had to leave." "We went to Córdoba, Argentina, because that's where my dad's brother lived." "But we weren't welcome." "Things didn't work out as they had expected." "I don't know what happened, whether they argued or fell out the thing is that we had to leave... back to Italy." "But there were too many of us." "I was the youngest and sick so didn't stand much of a chance, they thought." "They put me in a Salesian convent in Alta Gracia, because of my asthma" "and left, promising that my uncle was going to take care of me." "Uncle never appeared." "Can you believe that?" "After a while, the priests wondered what to do with a sick boy, all alone" "So they called the embassy, put me on a ship and sent me back to Italy." "Do you know what I thought?" "How amazing a kid's head is." "I didn't think I could die" "I thought I wasn't going to be able to breathe any more" "it must've been in the hope that they would be waiting for me at the port" "I mean, dad, mum... but no." "Well, the thing is that then, they put me in a convent..." "See?" "Now you know it all." "Now where could that child be?" "Where?" "And do you know what I discovered?" "That you know where he is and I need to thank you for not having left him alone." "Thank you for being at the port, my lady." "Father Mario!" "Father Mario!" "Why the hell has he called me?" "Please come in." "I've received an official communiqué from the Vatican for you, Father." "You can tell me how you did it later" "How I did what?" "How you convinced De Santis." "Congratulations!" "You have your church." "Give thanks to Father Pio, bighead." "Your friend, De Santis" "Oh, dear!" " Congratulations, for the church and the school..." " Thank you, Monsignor." "But I hear you're not going to give a Catholic education." "That's right, I don't think that education should be confessional." "But that is not the thinking of the Church..." "I don't wish to upset you, but you know we have that possibility we have no right to impose on children just one way of relating to God." "The fact is I want them all to come" " Catholics, Jews, Mormons, all." " Wrong, Father." "The Church is not democratic." " But school is, Monsignor." "Too much Freud and Sartre." "You should spend more time on the Gospel..." "Who told you I read Sartre?" "Mafalda is the only thing I read when I have time" "I read Patoruzu." "Don't believe everything you hear, sir." "Sorry." " May the Lord be with us." " And with your spirit." "Lord, with the light of the New Testament you illuminated to forgive all sins." "Shhh The doctor says you're not to speak." " Just one more question... just one." " Well, only one, uh?" "Did you never regret... having left your family?" "Tell me the truth, Perla." "Have you never regretted it?" "No, I haven't." "If I could go back in time I'd do it all again, but better." "No, I haven't." "If I could go back in time I'd do it all again, but better." "How come such a pretty woman hasn't fallen in love again?" "I was afraid you'd feel lonely..." "I've never felt lonely." "Never." "You'll have to leave now, madam." " What happened to her?" "Who is it?" " A tourist." "A terrible accident" " Is it serious?" " They say she won't last the night..." " Perla..." " You'll have to leave, madam." "Yes, Father." "Ah, yes, Father, I understand." " Doctor, Father Mario would like you to remove this screen." " No, we can't." " He wants to see that girl." "Take it away, please." " I said no, madam." " Please take it away." " I can't." "Take it away this minute." "She'll stay I leave." "FATHER MARIO IS STILL WITH US THROUGH HIS WORKS"