The Fall of Peter

II Francis

1. It's a dark morning and the Patriarch Francis calls the cardinal secretary of state to discuss about a few things:

2. "Remember when we started to talk about saints, your eminence?"
The pope asks.

"Of course, Holy Father"
Parolin remembers.

3. "Do you know why no one in this whole church is a saint?"
Pope Francis asks again.

"No, Holy Father."
The cardinal replies with curiosity.

4. "It's because everyone here is a coward. In the past, those bishops would sacrifice everything they have, even their lives, to pass the words of God to all the nations. They were not afraid of anything. And even in their last moments, they would honor and pray to our Lord. Just like Saint Peter when he asked to be crucified upside down.
5. Nowadays, we have everything. We won the mass oppression and got a massive church through the whole world. That made everyone comfortable. They stopped sacrificing their lives to God.
6. I already told you that I am also a coward. We can't be saints, my friend. We'll never be."
The Supreme Pontiff explains, with sadness in his face.

7. "If you want us to hear you instead of God, then be it. But you can't leave us now, Holy Father. If you resign, no cardinal or bishop will have the courage to give us hope or reasons to keep fighting.
8. You're the only one who's keeping our church together."
Parolin pleads and begs for the pope to not give up right now.

9. "You know... There was a cardinal who almost won the conclave instead of me. Do you remember?"
The Holy Father asks.

10. "Yes, I do. I don't know how he got so many votes. He's so young."
And the cardinal also remembers it.

11."And somehow, the word that he was going to suceed Pius XII, got in the whole church. A conservative pope was not what they needed."
Pope Francis completes.

12. "Don't you think it was God?"
Parolin comes with the hypothesis that he always thought it could be true.

13. "God could have spoken through him, changing his distorted vision of the world.
The Supreme Pontiff doesn't agree too much.

14. "What if he was already lost? What if Peter is also already lost?"
The cardinal compares both situations.

15. "Do you believe that, your eminence?"
The pope asks, hoping for a sincere and honest answer.

16. "I believe in a few things, and we all already know that the main one is God. The other things are not that much, but are essential.
17. I believe in a strong faith. I believe in a hope that never fades away. But most of all, I believe in love.
18. I know God loves us all, he would not destroy every single person with the pretext that the end justifies the means."
Parolin gives his point of view.

19. "You're wise, Parolin. I need you to do something for me."
The pope adresses another request.

20. "Whatever Your Holiness need."
The cardinal accepts with no hesitation.

21. "I want you to set a meeting with Peter here. Just me and him."
Pope Francis is direct.

"Are you sure, Holy Father?"
Parolin tries to certify the pope about his decision.

22. "Yes... Do it now. I want to meet him this night."
The Holy Father is sure about his request. He's no longer afraid to face the young prophet.

23. "How are you so confident now, Your Holiness?"
The cardinal asks, knowing that it was such a sudden change of mind.

24. "The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion...
When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order...
25. A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops...
Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them."
26. The pope says as the secretary of state also creates courage and confidence to confront the resistance and call for Peter.