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.

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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)

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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)

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