March 20, 1968
There’s a problem. It’s about P.L. – do you know who he is?[[A visitor who has been staying in the Ashram for some time. ]]
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.
Page 85
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 pro
blem. 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. [[Cardinal Tisserant, who died in 1972. ]]: “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)
Page 86
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)
Page 87