In the early morning, while the sky was pink and the sun was rising and the people of Valparaiso were buried in deep sleep, the bishop of Valparaiso gathered with a special envoy from the Vatican. Such meeting was held in the belltower, overlooking the city, and between wispering and silent movements. It was a secret meeting, after all. They stared at the sunrise, wondering about the new day that was rising. Just like the sun, new ideas were rising in Chile. The people were thirsty for revolution. The papal envoy spoke his concerns with the bishop.
"You know that South America looks up to Chile. You are the shining beacon of progress in this continent. Your fashions and ideas are copied all around the south cone. If Chile were to become red.. "
The envoy looked at the pink sky. It no longer looked pink, but rather looked if it suddenly changed it's colours to a pale red. In the background lay the foundations of an abandoned factory that did not survive the civil war, Zepeda & Family co. The monstrous gigant lay unfinished, as the owners were offed during the civil war, and all other relatives had fled to underground hideouts in the Andes. Just like the dead factory, the liberalism of XIXth century Chile had not outlived it's creators. The bishop was silent, so the envoy continued his speech.
"Red dawn. Christian values and moral boundaries die to people who claim they have killed God. The church must guide the people towards salvation. We cannot allow atheism to destroy our society. That is why we need a powerful archbishop in Chile. We are still mourning the loss of Cardinal Roberto Matta, the previous archbishop. As you know there is a vacant in that position. We want you to have that position."
For the first time in the hour long chat the bishop answered
"What do you want me to do?"
There was a slight change of expression in the envoy's face. He seemed satisfied, knowing his words had reached the young bishop. The envoy continued, hoping to get a "yes" from the bishop.
"You are a different kind of man that Roberto Matta ever was. You are into politics, despite the Separation of State and Church Act proposed by the Zepeda family during the radical years. You don't fear being left alone in the dark, being the only sane man in an insane country. We need you to save the country from communism."
The bishop laughed. He shaked hands with the envoy. The sun had risen, and the people of Valparaiso had woken up from their sleep, and started making loud noises as the city suddenly felt alive again. The abandoned factory looked like a monument to all that was lost during the last civil war, but nobody noticed it. Liberalism had been the driving force behind Chile during the last century, but it had died and nobody seemed to mind it anymore. Just like the Roman Colosseum or the Egyptian Pyramids, liberalism was no more than another era in history. Both men understood it was time for change. Then finally, the bishop gave the response the envoy needed.
"Yes, I will be your archbishop."
"You know that South America looks up to Chile. You are the shining beacon of progress in this continent. Your fashions and ideas are copied all around the south cone. If Chile were to become red.. "
The envoy looked at the pink sky. It no longer looked pink, but rather looked if it suddenly changed it's colours to a pale red. In the background lay the foundations of an abandoned factory that did not survive the civil war, Zepeda & Family co. The monstrous gigant lay unfinished, as the owners were offed during the civil war, and all other relatives had fled to underground hideouts in the Andes. Just like the dead factory, the liberalism of XIXth century Chile had not outlived it's creators. The bishop was silent, so the envoy continued his speech.
"Red dawn. Christian values and moral boundaries die to people who claim they have killed God. The church must guide the people towards salvation. We cannot allow atheism to destroy our society. That is why we need a powerful archbishop in Chile. We are still mourning the loss of Cardinal Roberto Matta, the previous archbishop. As you know there is a vacant in that position. We want you to have that position."
For the first time in the hour long chat the bishop answered
"What do you want me to do?"
There was a slight change of expression in the envoy's face. He seemed satisfied, knowing his words had reached the young bishop. The envoy continued, hoping to get a "yes" from the bishop.
"You are a different kind of man that Roberto Matta ever was. You are into politics, despite the Separation of State and Church Act proposed by the Zepeda family during the radical years. You don't fear being left alone in the dark, being the only sane man in an insane country. We need you to save the country from communism."
The bishop laughed. He shaked hands with the envoy. The sun had risen, and the people of Valparaiso had woken up from their sleep, and started making loud noises as the city suddenly felt alive again. The abandoned factory looked like a monument to all that was lost during the last civil war, but nobody noticed it. Liberalism had been the driving force behind Chile during the last century, but it had died and nobody seemed to mind it anymore. Just like the Roman Colosseum or the Egyptian Pyramids, liberalism was no more than another era in history. Both men understood it was time for change. Then finally, the bishop gave the response the envoy needed.
"Yes, I will be your archbishop."
