Yes, I saw that man: he was very much attached.The Mother
Agenda
Volume 9
March 20, 1968
There's a problem. It's about P.L. – do you know who he is?1
No.
He is one of the dignitaries of the Roman Curia.
I don't understand! He is a Catholic?
He's going to be appointed bishop in [such and such a country].
...!!!
So there's a problem. He is an important person, and he wants to leave everything – this whole Christianity he rejects, he no longer wants it. He wants to leave his Church, his episcopate, everything, and remain here. He has “found” something here.
Yes, I saw that man: he was very much attached.
Yes, and he wants to leave everything. But it's a problem, because the slightest thing may cause scandals in Italy. The Communists are always ready to seize on the least opportunity: a priest who gives up the frock... Not only a priest, but an apprentice bishop of the Roman Curia. So he would like it to take place without scandals. But how should he go about it?
I saw the man, and I found him very good.
He is very good. He has something. He has experiences with Sri Aurobindo, he sees Sri Aurobindo. But there too, there's a problem. First, he needs your force: he's a man without much force vitally and physically. When he goes out of his body... The other day, he saw Sri Aurobindo at the Samadhi, and at the same time his body was being devoured by wild beasts and thrown out of his bed. He is attacked, he needs to be protected. Vitally and physically, he is weak. So you understand, if he goes back to Rome, those people won't let him go without a battle.... He'd like to ask you how he should proceed?
Is he from [such and such a country]?
Yes, and he is employed in Rome's Court, he looks after divorce cases. So on the one hand he needs your force to carry out this operation – it really is an operation – and then, what's the way to avoid a scandal? He told me he is the right-hand man of Cardinal T.2: “Should I use my influence with Cardinal T. to be given a sort of mission outside Rome, in Africa or in India, gradually distancing myself from Rome, keeping out of the limelight, and then disappearing? Or should I directly speak to the Pope and tell him clearly all that's going on?...” Because you know that when the Pope came to Bombay, P.L. was with him in the plane....
I prefer the solution of speaking to the Pope.
(Mother goes into a long concentration)
Is he the one who fainted here during a meditation?
Yes, vitally and physically he is weak.
But vitally, the Pope is very strong. That's troublesome.
(Mother again goes into a long concentration)
It's the only way. That danger is there, but he'll have to go through it.
When is he leaving?
Early in April. He'll ask to see you before he goes.
Yes. But I won't speak.
From here where will he go first?
To Rome, I think.
(silence)
But I have a feeling the Pope may also be interested?
(Mother nods her head)
1 A visitor who has been staying in the Ashram for some time.
2 Cardinal Tisserant, who died in 1972.