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Pneumonia

Scene: The Papal Residence, Vatican City. Pope Francis, wrapped in a blanket, sits in a grand chair, coughing lightly. Enter Pope John Paul III, played by John Malkovich, with a solemn but intense expression.

Pope John Paul III:

Francisco… (pauses, tilts head) You look like death warmed over.

Pope Francis: (weakly smiling)

Ah, Giovanni… You have the subtlety of a hammer.

Pope John Paul III:

And yet, I bring wisdom, not nails. (leans in, steepling fingers) Listen to me, Francisco. The antibiotics—they are synthetic, unnatural. They strip your gut like a Vatican vault during a scandal.

Pope Francis: (sighs, rubbing temples)

Yes, yes… the doctors insist—

Pope John Paul III: (raising a finger)

Doctors. Hmph. Always treating the symptom, never the root. You need real medicine. (pulls out a small, handwritten list and reads in his deep, deliberate voice)

Garlic—stronger than any Swiss Guard. Pomegranate—blood of the fruit, for your blood. Citrus—lemon, orange, lime—the holy trinity of Vitamin C.

Pope Francis: (chuckles, coughing slightly)

You sound like an herbalist from the streets of Buenos Aires.

Pope John Paul III: (ignoring him, continuing with intensity)

Oregano, onion, basil—God’s own antibiotics. Turmeric—golden, sacred. Elderberry—black as sin, but it fights like an archangel. Green tea—wisdom in a cup. Ginger—fire for the lungs. Rosemary—smells like salvation. And cinnamon… (leans in, whispering) the spice of saints.

Pope Francis: (raising an eyebrow)

You memorized all this?

Pope John Paul III: (deadpan)

No. I wrote it on my sleeve. (pulls up sleeve slightly, revealing scribbled notes)

Pope Francis: (laughing weakly)

Alright, Giovanni. Suppose I eat all these. I still have to take antibiotics.

Pope John Paul III: (grimacing, nodding reluctantly)

Fine. But then you must fix the damage. (leans closer) Fermentation, Francisco. Fer-men-ta-tion.

Pope Francis: (smiling, humoring him)

And what is your prescription, Doctor John Paul?

Pope John Paul III: (counting on his fingers)

Sauerkraut—Croatian grandmothers swear by it. Yogurt—Greek, Bulgarian, doesn’t matter. Kefir milk—drink it, feel reborn. Kimchi—spicy, yes, but fire purifies. And miso soup—the monks in Japan live forever on this.

Pope Francis: (nodding thoughtfully)

So you want me to eat like a Croatian farmer, a Korean monk, and a Japanese samurai.

Pope John Paul III: (shrugging)

Would that be so bad? (pauses, then softly) Francisco, you are the Pope. But even a shepherd must take care of his own body, or he will not be there to tend the flock.

Pope Francis: (sighs, smiling warmly)

Alright, Giovanni. I will try.

Pope John Paul III: (nodding, satisfied)

Good. Now… (reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small jar and placing it in Pope Francis’ hands)

Pope Francis: (peering at it)

What is this?

Pope John Paul III: (grinning slightly)

Homemade Croatian sauerkraut. Extra fermented. You’ll thank me later.

(He turns and strides out of the room, his robe billowing slightly. Pope Francis watches him go, shaking his head but smiling as he opens the jar and takes a cautious sniff.)

FADE TO BLACK.

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Christian Socialism

TITLE: The Tenets of Sharing

INT. VATICAN – NIGHT

The grand hall of the Vatican is quiet, the stone walls echoing with a sense of history. Pope Pius XIII, dressed in his white robes, stands at a large wooden podium, addressing a small group of trusted advisors and leaders. His gaze is intense, his voice calm but commanding.

POPE PIUS XIII
(softly but firmly)
“Democracy is not simply a system of government. It is a moral imperative. And Christian socialism, the kind of socialism that bears the teachings of Christ, is not about taking away from the rich or punishing the powerful—it is about sharing. Sharing everything. Sharing the fruits of labor, the wealth of the land, and most importantly, sharing power.”

He pauses, letting the weight of his words sink in. His eyes scan the room, looking each advisor in the eye.

POPE PIUS XIII
“Jesus Himself taught us that to be great in the Kingdom of God, one must be the servant of all. What does that mean, if not to serve the people? To share power, not hoard it? To lift up those who are weak, poor, and oppressed, so that all may have an equal chance at the riches of life—whether they be material or spiritual.”

The advisors shift uncomfortably, some nodding in agreement, others skeptical. Pope Pius XIII’s tone grows more impassioned.

POPE PIUS XIII
“We have failed if we allow power to remain concentrated in the hands of the few. We have failed if the wealth of the world, the resources that God has provided, are hoarded by the privileged while the many suffer. It is not enough to give charity. Charity is not justice. Justice demands that we redistribute—not just wealth, but the very power that governs us.”

He steps away from the podium, walking slowly toward a large map of the world on the wall. His finger traces the continents, the countries, the boundaries.

POPE PIUS XIII
“We must create a world where power is not a tool for oppression, but a means of lifting others. Where the powerful do not rule over the weak, but share in the burden of governance. A world where the decisions made in the halls of power are not about maintaining the status quo, but about creating a society that is just, equitable, and loving.”

He turns back to the group, his eyes fierce, his voice steady.

POPE PIUS XIII
“This is the vision of democratic Christian socialism. It is not a utopia. It is a call to action. A call to share, to serve, to give. To ensure that all, no matter their station in life, have access to the blessings of this earth. And that power, the most dangerous and corrupting force, is shared equally among all.”

He pauses, letting the silence fill the room.

POPE PIUS XIII
“Do not let the world tell you that power is meant to be hoarded. Do not let the systems of wealth and privilege convince you that some are born to rule while others are born to serve. In the eyes of God, we are all His children, and we are all meant to share in the blessings He has given us.”

The advisors sit in stunned silence, some visibly moved, others deep in thought. Pope Pius XIII’s gaze softens, his voice quieter but no less resolute.

POPE PIUS XIII
“It is time for us to lead by example. To show the world that true power lies in service, in sharing, in love.”

He turns and walks toward the door, his robes flowing behind him. The room remains still, the weight of his words hanging in the air.

FADE OUT.

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Oluja/Storm 91 – 99

“Dear brothers and sisters, today I speak not only as the shepherd of this Church but as a son of a land that has known the pain of war. I speak as a Croatian, born from a soil soaked in tears and resilience. And I speak as one who remembers.

The war in my homeland was not a distant conflict; it was the air we breathed, the ground we walked upon, the songs that were silenced. Operation Storm—Oluja, as we call it—was a turning point, a storm that swept through the land, bringing both liberation and loss. It was a moment of triumph for some, and a wound that remains unhealed for others.

War, my friends, is a crucible of the human soul. It reveals the depths of our brokenness, the ease with which we can turn against one another. But it also reveals the strength of the human spirit, the capacity to endure, to rebuild, to forgive. In the midst of devastation, I saw neighbors sharing their last loaf of bread, soldiers laying down their weapons to carry children to safety, prayers whispered in bomb shelters. These moments of grace remind us that even in the darkest night, the light of Christ shines.

But let us not romanticize war. Let us not glorify its violence or justify its destruction. As a Croatian, I know too well the cost of freedom. I know the names of the villages that no longer exist, the faces of the children who never grew up, the silence of the churches that once rang with hymns. These are the scars my homeland bears, and they are the scars I carry in my heart.

Yet, as a Christian, I also know the power of resurrection. The story of Croatia, like the story of our faith, is not one of despair but of hope. From the ruins of war, we have rebuilt homes and lives. From the ashes of division, we have begun to sow the seeds of reconciliation. This is the work of God’s Spirit, moving among us, calling us to be peacemakers, to be healers, to be builders of a new future.

The Gospel calls us to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us. This is not an easy command. It is not a command that erases the pain of the past or denies the reality of injustice. But it is a command that frees us from the cycle of hatred, that opens the door to a peace that is not of this world.

Today, I call on all nations, all peoples, to learn from the wounds of my homeland. Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past. Let us not allow pride, greed, or fear to lead us into conflict. Instead, let us be instruments of peace, guided by the love of Christ.

And to my fellow Croatians, wherever you may be, I say this: Remember the storm, but do not let it define you. Remember the pain, but do not let it consume you. Remember the loss, but do not let it rob you of hope. For we are a people of the resurrection, and our story is not over. The God who brought us through the storm will bring us to a place of peace.

May God bless Croatia, may God bless all nations, and may His peace reign in every heart.”

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