The why bother going to confession and telling your sins to a man? Why not deal direct and just tell God you are sorry?

I forgive you.

Thats very Christian of you. By the way what are you forgiving me for?

because you judged me (Matthew 7:1 "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged")
Just kidding, Johnny. Friends?

I didnt judge you, I was merely passing on observation. Friends? Sure, I didn't realize we were supposed to be enemies!

I don't know Johnny. You'd better find out if this is a matter of actually being friends, or one of keeping your friends close, but your enemies closer.

You know how those Italian woman can be sometimes.


Don Cardi

that's fine. Besides, I could never be enemy with someone who loves tuna fish sandwiches

yeah, simply the best.

Especially the Lucy Mancini types

Has to be on toast with tomato and with ice tea

Best what? In the films most of them were whiny and demanding. Now Fredo had the right idea of marrying an non Italian. Ok so she drank a little, but she knew how to have a good time

Oh, that is an Italian American type, actually. We Italian Italians are far worse.

Worse how? More shall we say, liberal, then Lucy?

Whiny and demanding is like any woman is. And I can assure you we Italian women know how to have a good time too. Even when we are sober.

if needed.

Great minds think alike!


Don Cardi

you bet!

Y'know...all this conversation prompted me to look up the scene on GFIII transcript. A quick look a all the cliche's uttered by the Cardinal, plus the reason Michael was sitting with him in the first place...indicates how phony and staged this whole redemption concept is.

MICHAEL: I trusted this business arrangement with the archbishop. I trusted him, I was sure his honesty was beyond a doubt. But, as you see, I'm now the victim of a swindle. They're stalling me. Vast moneys have gone to the pezzonovante in high political places, and the Vatican bank is the guarantor.

CARDINAL LAMBERTO: If what you say is true, there will be a great scandal.

<Cardinal Lamberto moves towards a fountain.>

CL: Look at this stone. It has been lying in the water for a very long time, but the water has not penetrated it.

<He breaks the stone.>

CL: Look. Perfectly dry. The same thing has happened to men in Europe. For centuries they have been surrounded by Christianity, but Christ has not penetrated. Christ doesn't breathe within them.

<Michael suddenly has to sit down. He loosens his collar to help him breath.>

CL: What's happened?

M: Is it possible, that you could get me something sweet? Orange juice, anything, candy.

CL: (to a priest, in Italian) Please get some orange juice and candy.

M: Trouble with diabetes. Blood sugar levels must be low.

<The priest returns promptly with orange juice and candy.>

CL: I understand.

<Michael drinks the juice and eats some candy. It helps him.>

M: When I'm under stress sometimes this happens.

CL: I understand.

M: I come to you, on such a delicate matter - accusations against your Archbishop - was difficult for me.

CL: The mind suffers and the body, cries out.

M: That's true.

CL: Would you like, to make your confession?

MICHAEL (laughs)

M: Your Eminence, I’m uh – I’m uh...it's been so long, I wouldn't – wouldn’t – wouldn’t know where to uh, it's been thirty years, I'd – I’d – I’d use up too much of your time, I think.

CL: I always have time to save souls.

M: Well, I'm - I'm beyond redemption.

<Don Tommasino and a priest wheeling him approach>

CL: (to the priest looking after Don Tommasino, in Italian)
"Give us a couple of minutes alone please – thanks…"

<The priest leaves with Don Tommasino. Cardinal Lamberto leads Michael to a corner of the courtyard.>

CL: I hear the confessions of my young priests here. Sometimes the desire to confess is overwhelming. And we must seize the moment.

M: What is the point of confessing, if I don't repent?

CL: I hear you are a practical man. What have you got to lose? Huh? (long pause) Go on.

***

Finally...after all that comes Michael's heartfelt confession.

Apple

Spending all day cooking in the kitchen isnt my idea of a good time

neither mine.

The thing that struck me as phony and staged in that scene was that the priest could get a tray with a pitcher of OJ, full glasses, and chocolate in about 5 seconds.

Oh really? Lavinia we need to talk and get to know each other better . Forget all my posts I made about the confession, you were entirely correct in all things

you underestimate the power of a Cardinal, big shot in the Church.

Not really Italians are known for always having food around for guests

I knew it. Men!!! Either they live in Tampa/Florida or in Rome/Italy, they are always the same.

I knew it. Men!!! Either they live in Tampa/Florida or in Rome/Italy, they are always the same.

Unlike the Italian men from New York!


Don Cardi

I think she might have meant "Whether" they live etc.

Back to the original question:
The fact that Michael was made a Knight of St. Sebastian doesn't necessarily imply forgiveness for sins--it just implies a big contribution to the church. But his confession to Cardinal Lamberto seemed to me to fall far short of real forgiveness:

"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].

The Cardinal then utters the traditional "Ego te absolvum," which implies forgiveness for sins confessed. But he didn't do two other things that I think are de rigeur in confessions: He didn't ask Michael if he was sorry for his sins, and he didn't assign penance. I think FFC and Puzo intended the scene as another dramatic device: to show Michael sad and tortured by what he did, but not repentant, as well as to give us a bravura scene for Pacino and to show off the considerable skills of the great Raf Vallone.

Ahhh, I don't know if I agree with that TB. Yes, it was FFC's intention to show us a sad and torutured Michael, but I also think that we are shown a guilt ridden Michael, one who was seeking forgiveness from God, but deep down could never forgive himself. And that, IMO, was the inner conflict.


He took many steps to try and redeem himslef, giving money to the church, setting up the foundation and eventually seeking absolution from the Cardinal. But deep down he knew that he was only fooling himself because he knew that he could never forgive himself no matter what he did.


I always felt that Michael was sincerely sorry.
Guilt ridden, sad and tortured, yes, but also sincerely sorry because of what he did to his brother. And because of the deep guilt that he felt, he could never forgive himself.

We see the guilt that is within his subconscience earlier in the movie when he goes into his diabetic fit and blurts out "FREDO!" We see it again when he is talking to Connie when she is giving him his insulin shot, and we see the confusion within him when he is talking to the body of Don Tommasino at his wake.

I must repsectuflly disagree with you on this one TB, Michael was sorry for what he did, however he could never find it within himslef to forgive himself.


Don Cardi