One
of Pope Francis’ favorite novels is “The Betrothed” by Alessandro
Manzoni. It is about two lovers whose longing to marry is thwarted by a
cowardly and morally mediocre priest and a grasping nobleman. A good
simple friar shelters the suffering couple. Then a plague hits the
country, reminding everyone of their mortality and vulnerability, and
also bringing about a moral reckoning.
As
the doctors serve in hospitals for the body, the good people in the
church serve in hospitals for the soul. One cardinal remonstrates the
cowardly priest. “You should have loved, my son; loved and prayed. Then
you would have seen that the forces of iniquity have power to threaten
and to wound, but no power to command.” In the end there are
heart-wrenching scenes of confession, forgiveness, reconciliation and
marriage.
