Michael confesses Fredo’s murder to Cardinal Lamberto in a curious way:

“I killed -- I ordered the death of my brother. He injured me.”

I’m not Catholic, but it seems to me that when you confess, you admit your sins without trying to rationalize, explain or excuse them. An attempt to create “mitigating circumstances” probably would cause the priest to doubt your sincerity and be reluctant to grant you absolution. Yet Michael tries to mitigate the sin of killing his brother by blaming Fredo.

And, he picked a peculiar way of explaining himself. I’d think that if he wanted to provide a reason for killing Fredo, he’d have a stronger case if he said, “He betrayed me to my enemies, and his betrayal almost cost my wife and me our lives as we lay in bed.” Or, “He helped conspire to put me in prison for many years by deliberately withholding information about my enemies from me.” Both of those statements would have been true. But, “He injured me” isn’t, because he was physically and mentally agile enough to escape injury from both of Fredo’s attempts to destroy him.

Your thoughts?

You can also see it a little different.

When he said: 'I killed...' he had a thougth and changed to the words to 'I ordered...'. To me the last one is a bigger sin. And by saying that, you confess nothing but the truth. No mitigating circumstances at all.

I think the reason that Michael killed Fredo was not for the betrayal to Roth - literally. I think it truly was because he INJURED Michael's heart. If you recall when he hears Fredo talking about how Johnny Ola showed him Havana, you can see the incredible pain that Michael feels. It's almost like a physical blow.

I think that Michael had Fredo killed because he hurt his feelings. That seems silly, but I think that Michael felt that Tom and Fredo were the only people that he trusted, the only two who would never betray him. I think he also underestimated Fredo - thought him the drunken fool incapable of plotting against his little brother. This way, Michael felt doubly betrayed.

And that's what he's confessing to the Cardinal, not just the sin, but the pain associated with it, and it was pain that he never rid himself of until the confession.

I've argued before that Fredo was not a threat to Michael, was not believed by Michael to be a threat, and did not deserve to die.

This line ("He injured me.") is one of the reasons I've come to that conclusion. As you rightly point out, TB, it was a curious phrase to use in a confession.

But I do not believe that he is attempting to mitigate his guilt. Quite the opposite. I believe Michael's confession was genuine and that, for once, he is being totally candid. He is simply giving the true reason for why he killed Fredo - not that Fredo was a threat, but that Michael was hurt by him.

It was strictly personal, not business.

I found the lines in that scene a bit unnatural - he refers to his brother as something like "my father's son". Plus the instant availability of orange juice and candy

Of course I don't care for the movie but I thought those lines "my father's son" actually worked in that context. Michael was reminding himself that not only had he murdered his brother, but that he had also committed a grave crime against his mother and father, one that he could not and did not forgive himself for.

He was not only feeling guilty about ordering the death of his own brother. His guilt also consisted of ordering the death of his "father's son" which translates into Michael feeling that he BETRAYED his father's trust and his mother's love by having his brother, their other son, murdered. Let's keep in mind that by Vito handing the reigns over to Michael, he trusted that Michael would take care of and protect the family in the same manner that Vito had protected the family.

So Michael felt guilty after finally realizing that he betrayed his father because he did not do what his father had trusted him to do in protecting his family.

Makes sense DC.

However, the rapid appearance of Orange Juice was a bit silly, as if a waiter was lurking around the corner in case the Cardinal suddenly found himself in a citrusy mood.

...and the candy bars, too. I bet an egg cream couldn't have been far behind.

Merry Christmas to all!!

Michael was mostly "obligated" to order Frdo's death,in a way that during the whole Part II his was almost obsessed with the idea of being betrayed.

So he wanted to let people around him realize that not even his own brother can be forgiven.

Remember Frankie 5 Angels: He didn't have to order his suicide,Frankie was a good guy.
Remember Michael's hints to Tom Hagen...

During the whole movie he becomes more and more cruel and ruthless.

And that's what he pays for in Part III...

Right on Turnbull. Confession/absolution does not require an explanation or rationalization. You did the deed, guilty, the reason doesn't matter - to the priest. In confession, the priest will ask the confessor, "are you sorry for your sins?". You say a prayer call "The Act of Contrition" where you state your sorrow and ask for forgiveness. That is required in Confession. Michael doesn't make a "good confession", hence, combined with the severity of his sins, Lamberti leaves him with a you're-gonna-burn-in-Hell message.

Yes. The Cardinal said, "Your sins are terrible, and it is just that you suffer. Your life, could be redeemed, but I know that you don't believe that. You will not change." [emphasis added.] But he absolved Michael anyway, and he didn't give him any acts of contrition to make.

Confession is an acknowledgement that one has offended God and is truly sorry for having done so. I don' think that Mike thougt in those terms nor was really sorry. As far as Lamberto's comment about Mike not changing, I believe he was referring to Mike's belief that he was beyond forgiveness.

When Michael is at Don Tomassino's coffin he vows on the lives of his children to sin no more, and at once he turns everything over to Vincent, who in turn orders the murders of Luchese, the Swiss Banker f*ck and the archbishop, and of course Connie gives Altobello that almond flavored canolli.
Michael had to know this was going on, and he was called on the oath he tok because by "sinning once more" it cost Mary her life.

Exactly, DT. Vincent could not have assumed the mantle of command unless Michael had put his imprimatur on it. He knew what was bound to happen. He did just like his father who passed the mantle of command to Michael in part because he just didn't have the heart anymore.

Even Mafia guys know that it is illegal to kill, but rationalise it as part of the "business" that must happen.

Sadly, the rules that give "honour" also give murderous impulses.

Gee, that's profound...a towering addition to our understanding of the Trilogy...

From what I've seen recently, it looks like "serious discussion" on The Godfather trilogy has ended.

Keep it up Lompac and it will not only look like, but it will actually be that your run here on these boards will end.

EDIT : As a matter of fact.....it may be time to send you on a little vacation out west, perhaps you can learn the casino business while you're there.