The Fall of Peter

I Francis

1. Back in the Vatican, in that same night, Pope Francis sits in his chair at the papal office, accompanied by the cardinal secretary of state, Pietro Parolin, who sits in the chair in front of him.

2. "So, this man's father was a fisherman. He never went to school once, and yet he has spoken such beautiful words of wisdom to all those followers. His speech is so erudite.
3. It's impossible that a man like him could be acting alone on this journey."
The Holy Father says in distress.

4. "Your Holiness, are you saying that there could possibly be someone behind him telling what to say?"
The cardinal questions.

5. "I'm saying that maybe I already know who that is."
The pope says

"Who, Holy Father?"
The secretary of state asks, curious.

6. "God, your eminence... God."
The Patriarch answers, discontented.

7. "I understand your point of view. But, don't you think it could also just be a plot to take your supremacy?"
Parolin points out the other side of the box.

8. "Of course! That's the most 'plausible' explanation here."
Pope Francis answers

9. "So, don't beat yourself up, Holy Father. If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. Remember?"
The cardinal replies, with some hope he kept.

10. "He doesn't answer me anymore..."
The Holy Father answers directly with disappointment.

11. "Your Holiness, are you telling me that the church should follow your words instead of God's?"
The secretary of state asked, with a little concern about how that could affect their church.

12. "We'll see about that... What about those notes, what did Abate say?"
Pope Francis deflects the subject with another question.

13. "He told me that in the back it said 'Gospel of Simeon Armadi'. That's how he found out about Peter's real name. And also, it was signed by someone named 'Mark', that according to the italian records, is Peter's younger brother."
Parolin explains.

14. "Do you believe in that prophecy, your eminence?"
The Patriarch asked, curious to know the answer of one of his closest advisers.

15. "I'm not sure in what to believe now, Holy Father"
The cardinal answered, with profound doubt.

16. "I was supposed to resign this year, do you know why?"
Pope Francis brings up another subject.

"I believe that it was to follow the steps of your predecessor."
The cardinal answered with uncertainty.

17. "No, your eminence. That's what they all wanted to believe. The real reason was that I was afraid to suffer... Suffer in the hands of that prophecy..."
The Holy Father explained, with a visible shame on his face.

18. "So it was fear, Your Holiness?"
Parolin asks to get a direct answer.

"Yes..."
The pope answers with even more shame. He, then, continues:
19. "I don't think I am worthy of my post. Maybe, I should resign just like I was intended to."
He says like he already made up his mind.

20. "No, Holy Father, you can't! You're a saint!"
The cardinal says in exclamation.

21. "We're all sinners, your eminence."
The pope disbelives him.

22. "No, I didn't mean symbolically. I meant literally. You are the father and the mother of this church."
The cardinal explains.

23. "Yet, I don't feel like it."
Pope Francis said in total negativity before getting up and leaving his own office. He was totally devastated with the whole situation.