This story begins in March 1852, in Bologna
where the Mortara family lived.
Edgardo, the sixth child, was 6 months old.
Bologna belonged to the Papal States and Pius IX was the Pope-King.
I raise my eyes toward the mountains.
From where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
God will not allow your foot to slip;
your guardian does not sleep.
Truly, the guardian of Israel never slumbers nor sleeps.
The Lord is your guardian;
the Lord is your shade at your right-hand.
KIDNAPPED
6 years later
...six, seven, eight,
nine, ten.
Stay still.
Home for Edgardo, Giulio and Ercole.
Home, everyone's safe!
Children, to bed!
Go on.
Hear, O Israel:
the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.
You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, with all your soul,
and with all your might.
Off to bed now.
Good night.
Is this the home of Signor Mortara?
Yes... yes.
- Who is it? - There are some gentlemen.
They must come back later, my husband isn't here.
Let me go up.
Good evening, I'm Maresciallo Lucidi.
Good evening.
- Are you home alone? - Yes, my husband isn't here.
We need to clarify some things regarding your family.
Where are you going?
To my home.
My name is Marianna Padovani Mortara.
Salomone Mortara is my husband, but everyone calls him Momolo.
- What's going on? - Listen to what this gentleman wants.
Something wrong, maresciallo?
The order from my superiors
is to collect the names of your entire family, to identify them.
Why?
Riccardo, first born.
Imelda, in the cradle
and those are the twins, Ernesta and Erminia.
Those remaining are: Augusto,
Arnoldo, Edgardo,
Ercole and Giulio.
- They're in bed. - They're sleeping.
I'm sorry, but you must wake them.
Go call Angelo, Sanguinetti and Uncle Bonajuto.
All the friends you can find.
- What's going on, Papa? - Did Grandma die?
- Oh, no. -An inspection.
- If someone asks you questions... - Who?
- Don't speak, but be polite. - Leave the speaking to us.
Who is this gentleman?
Are you Augusto?
Answer.
No, I'm Arnoldo.
I'm Augusto.
- Giulio? - I'm Giulio.
I'm Ercole.
Ercole. And he is Edgardo?
Yes.
- Is that right? - That's me.
Signor Mortara, I am sorry to tell you
that you are the victim of a betrayal,
your son, Edgardo, has been baptized
and I have an order to seize him.
- What do you mean? - I have to take him away.
Who ordered this?
The Tribunal of the Holy Office.
They'll have to kill me first.
- There must be some mistake. - No.
- And who supposedly baptized him? - I do not know.
- Where are you taking him? - I'm not authorized to tell you.
Stop, you cannot go in!
- Let us in! - Get out of here!
I'm scared!
They want to take him away from us!
Toss him to us!
They want to take him away!
I'll catch him!
Don't!
I'm sorry.
Maresciallo, do you see this misery?
You have a family too, I ask you for a postponement.
The order comes from Monsignor Feletti,
the Father Inquisitor of the San Domenico Convent.
I didn't tell you anything.
"Please do not lose sight
of the boy, even for a second.
Make sure he is neither snatched
nor sacrificed.
We know well the superstitions the Jews are imbibed with.
Utmost vigilance.
And then, after twenty-four hours have passed,
you may take him,
that is, tomorrow evening
without deferment.
Father Feletti."
Hand this over to Maresciallo Lucidi.
The Church, if necessary, knows how to be a merciful mother.
No, it was all done in full compliance, according to canon law.
Resign yourselves.
And do not return, because I am no longer willing to receive you.
Let us pray also for the perfidious Jews:
that Almighty God
may remove the veil from their hearts,
so that they too may acknowledge Jesus Christ our Lord.
If we levy a tax upon ourselves, upon our hevrot,
we can collect some gelt to make them back down.
An appeal, a deferment.
This is just futzing around.
The Inquisition is involved. They're worse schmutzes than the Pharaoh.
Now enough with the kvetching.
Rather, who made him a goy?
Edgardo was born in 1851.
The 27th of August, 1851.
Is the maidel working for you now a Catholic?
Yes, but she just recently arrived.
- Before there was Anna. - Who?
Anna Morisi
we sent her away for stealing,
she was a ganef.
Momolo.
It's an order from the maresciallo.
Let's not despair, for now he's still here.
Hear, O Israel:
the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.
You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, with all your soul,
and with all your might.
These words which I command you today
shall be upon your heart.
Must you really? Can you stay outside?
Pretend we're not here.
June 24th, 1858
May God Almighty bless you.
In the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Go forth.
The Mass is ended.
I am Edgardo Mortara's father.
I gave you a twenty-four-hour deferment, make do with that.
I am sure something more can be done.
No, a baptism cannot be annulled.
Your son is Christian for all eternity.
No!
When?
- Tonight. - My question was something else.
When did this baptism occur?
Who baptized him behind our backs?
I cannot tell you, it's confidential,
but I assure you it happened.
I believe it is all a misunderstanding.
Give us some time and we'll get to the bottom of it.
That's impossible.
Are you taking him away?
Yes.
Actually...
it would be advisable
that you convince your wife not to oppose,
to avoid frightening your other children as well.
You'll be able to see him as often as you like.
Where will you take him?
I believe he'll remain here in town.
Actually, it would be a good idea to bring a change of clothes.
But for how long?
- Someone has to listen to me... - Enough now!
There's no point debating it.
-So? - The children?
They're sleeping. So?
You have to do something!
They can't take him away from me!
They can't!
You have to go with Angelo to his house.
Imelda needs to be breastfed.
I'll take care of Edgardo.
And besides, this isn't the last word, don't worry.
I'll go speak with the cardinal.
Lucia, let's go.
They're taking him away from me.
They want to take him away.
What's happening?
They want to take him away from me.
Let me get out.
Let me go!
They're taking him away! I want to get out!
Put this in your pocket.
Don't lose it.
And remember to recite the Shema every night.
Will they chop off my head, Papa?
No.
They won't hurt you.
Be strong, Signor Mortara. God is in Heaven for everyone.
Yes.
Let's go.
Don't worry, we're coming with you.
Your father and I will follow you in another carriage.
- Papa, don't abandon me. - Don't worry, we're coming with you.
Papa, don't abandon me!
They're taking him!
Let him go!
Would you like a candy?
- Who are you looking for? - I'm Momolo Mortara.
I brought my son's change of clothes.
- Father Feletti? - He cannot receive you.
He instructed me to tell you that your son is no longer in Bologna, he left.
Left?
Where is he?
I don't know, however your son doesn't need anything.
Peace and goodwill.
Where are we going?
We're going to Rome, the Pope is waiting for you.
He can't wait to meet you.
Who's the Pope?
He's a very important man,
the king of Christians.
He is your king.
When will I go home to my mama?
She will come to visit you,
but you have to deserve it.
SENIGALLIA CATHEDRAL
This is the Pope's church, he was baptized here.
And this is the baptismal font.
That is the baptism of Jesus.
He was Jewish, like you,
and He was baptized, just like you.
He's crucified Jesus, the Son of God.
- Is he the one I saw from the boat? - Yes, it's Him.
- Is he sleeping? - No, He's dead.
He was killed by the Jews.
I have a gift for you.
Don't ever take it off,
it will protect you.
When you're sad,
kiss it and the sadness will pass.
Come here.
Take the baby, hurry up.
- StOp_ ‘ No!
Wait.
- Don't be afraid. - We aren't here to hurt you.
We only want to know the truth.
Did you baptize my son?
Tell him the truth.
- What's going on? - Nothin'.
- What do they want? - Nothin', go in the house.
I don't understand, what is she saying?
- He was a Jew, he was gonna go to Limbo! - What is Limbo?
What is Limbo?
Did you baptize him, yes or no? Stop.
Anna.
Did you baptize my son?
ROME, June 28th, 1858
HOUSE OF CATECHUMENS
Welcome, we were anxiously awaiting you.
This is your new home, Edgardo.
Follow me.
Good night and may the Lord be with you.
See you tomorrow, good night.
If you need anything, call me.
I sleep over there.
Hear, O Israel:
the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.
You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, with all your soul,
and with all your might.
And these words which I command...
- Are you a Jew? - Yes.
- It's not true, you have a crucifix. - It's a good luck charm.
The woman who brought me gave it to me.
Where ya from?
Bologna.
My name's Elia, I'm from the ghetto in Rome.
Let's get to sleep, they wake us up at six.
- How long do we have to stay here? - That depends on you.
A week, a month, even a year.
But if you behave,
if you study,
and you do what they tell you, they send you home sooner.
You gotta be sly.
Good night.
Who's he?
His name's Simone.
- What's he got? - His heart.
His mom comes to see him often, she's allowed because she converted.
Mortara, come with me.
Come on.
Boys, in line.
Mass is every morning, at the same time.
In the beginning you won't understand anything, but you'll learn.
Latin isn't difficult, it's very similar to Italian.
I can say prayers in Hebrew.
Hebrew could be useful in the future,
perhaps for your studies.
Here the prayers are in Latin.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.
Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.
Grant us peace.
- May I go sit next to Elia? - Of course.
Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
You gotta learn the whole thing by heart.
You stay here.
The body of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What're you doing?
The contemplation of Christ.
Dear friends, this is the document
we all drew up and signed.
I'll read it for you.
"From the administrative board of the Israelites of Romagna.
This appeal is addressed to the Israelite councils of France and England.
The seriousness of the events regarding the Mortara family
is clear to all.
It is no longer possible to accept such abuses."
"We are certain that to prevent such events from happening in the future,
you, as members of the Israelite councils of France and England,
will deem it a sacred duty to appeal
to your respective governments."
- It won't do any good, it's all useless. - Did you say something?
They're just words.
It would take Attila.
We don't have any other weapons.
For now.
We put the hat here because on the bed it brings bad luck.
- Shall I help you dress? - No, I'll do it by myself.
Good.
Edgardo.
Will you give me some water?
Do you always pray for me?
Yes, we pray every day-
Am I going to die?
THE KIDNAPPER POPE
Come.
Ten years ago, they saw me as a liberator,
the patriots invoked my name,
they hoisted my bust on the barricades, "Almighty God, bless Italy!"
Now I've become a criminal, an assassin.
The patriots are ready to slaughter me,
to send me to the guillotine, to hang me.
Your Holiness, the banker, Rothschild, has already written twice,
always with great diplomacy.
Our debt with him amounts to more than one million pounds.
Should Rothschild wake up one morning
demanding repayment of the debt, we would be bankrupt.
Catholics all over the world would revolt.
Yes, of course.
But the Mortara affair is putting us in a bad light even with Catholics.
The liberal press is on us, they've written about it everywhere,
in France, in Belgium, in Russia.
Even The London Times is covering it.
The Masons are behind it.
And the Judeans all over the world.
We've even come to this, yes.
In Boston, an actor went onstage
and depicted breaking into the Papal residence with some coreligionists,
entering the bedroom of Your Holiness,
restraining you and...
circumcising you.
A blasphemy only a Jew could envision.
All the rabbis of France, Germany, America and Russia combined
won't make me budge an inch.
Let them say I'm a reactionary,
but it's not true, I'm standing firm,
it is the world that is moving toward the precipice,
progress is leading it to complete ruin.
I've been contacted several times
by Gramont, the ambassador.
It seems Napoleon Ill is also displeased.
Displeased?
Since when do people need
to be pleased with the Pope's decisions?
Since when?
To kings, princes and emperors,
the Pope has only one response:
non possumus.
We cannot give up the boy,
in keeping with our faith's principles.
All right.
Everything can be lost,
but not a soul that Christ has gained with His blood.
I am the Pope!
I only have to answer to God.
Well then, boys.
Let's begin.
All together and with enthusiasm.
- Do you know it by heart? - Yes!
You watch the others and repeat.
With the permission of those present.
To life.
Blessed are You, the Lord our God, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Heart of Jesus, Son of the eternal Father.
Have mercy on us.
Blessed are You, the Lord our God, Who sanctified us with His commandments
and with intent invested us with His sacred Sabbath.
Heart of Jesus,
formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, pierced by a lance.
Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection.
Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation.
Have mercy on us.
Blessed are You, the Lord our God, Sanctifier of the Sabbath.
The Angel who hath redeemed me from all evil,
bless these children,
and let my name be named on them
and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac.
And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
Blessed are You, the Lord our God, King of the Universe,
Who brings forth bread from the earth.
We must baptize him immediately.
Come into the temple of God
to take part in eternal life with Christ.
Depart from him, unclean spirit,
and give place to the Holy Spirit, the Advocate.
Repudiate Jewish infidelity,
reject the Jewish superstitious beliefs.
Receive the sign of the cross
on your brow
and on your heart.
Receive the faith and holy commandments.
I sign you.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
That you may come to your eternal destiny
and have life without end.
Stand up, complete the prayer and say Amen.
My son, Edgardo, welcome.
This is your family now.
Please, just a couple coins.
I'm starving, I beg you.
One coin!
I'm Sabbatino Scazzocchio, the community's secretary.
- I was the one who wrote you. - A pleasure.
My wife, Marianna.
Come.
Come in, Salomone.
This is one of the five synagogues where we Jews of Rome pray.
Good day.
Good day, Nathan.
Let's sit over there.
The news from our informers in the house of catechumens
is that the boy is well.
Thank you.
What a relief.
No, you didn't understand,
the boy is well.
Yes, I understood,
I rejoice in this.
But this is exactly the problem.
They say that he is happy there,
that he recites the prayers,
and that he doesn't miss you in the slightest.
What does that mean?
If he's happy, it's much harder for us to get him back.
And considering the mess you've made, it's even harder.
But what...?
What?
You've really screwed up!
You took matters into your own hands!
The story's been in all the newspapers,
it made it all the way to America.
- In America? - Yes, in America!
You should've come to us immediately.
We know how to act, we know the newspaper editors.
Even the Catholic ones.
We'll try to do something anyway, but it's more difficult.
You've really caused havoc.
Havoc?
What were we supposed to do?
Now, when you see him,
tell him that his mother is tormented
and that without him she's fallen sick.
But it's not true,
she's desperate, yes, but not sick.
Tell him that this whole business
has driven her out of her mind.
Word has it she's gone mad.
But it's not true.
For crying out loud, I know it's not true!
But that's what you gotta tell him!
The boy has to rebel!
He must refuse to eat,
he must scream and cry,
he must say that life
is unbearable without his family!
If he settles in, if he resigns himself
and forgets his religion,
you'll never get him back!
Never!
HOUSE OF CATECHUMENS
Signor Mortara, come.
Good morning, Edgardo.
Good morning, Papa.
Are you well?
Yes.
You're not talking to me?
What are your days like?
I go to school,
first Mass every morning,
lessons,
lunch,
recreation, study time...
He has a prodigious memory.
We really miss you, you know?
Mama...
Mama is fine.
She nurses Imelda.
We get by.
Riccardo is helping me in the shop now.
Ercole lost his front teeth, he looks very funny.
Will you give me a kiss?
You really can't send him home?
Even just for a few days.
That depends only on you,
Edgardo will return home when you decide to become Christians.
Bye, Papa.
How did it go?
- Did you see Edgardo? - Yes, I saw him.
He's well, he even kissed me.
But...
What?
He offered his hand to the rector, he left without looking back.
I couldn't yell, what if they took it out on him?
I know, you think I should've done more.
But if you saw the situation,
he's no longer able to be spontaneous, affectionate,
he's afraid.
If we convert, we can get him back.
- You are the one who's afraid, not him. - What are you saying?
I want to see him myself.
Aaron, does God have a body like us?
God doesn't have a body like us, He is pure spirit.
Is there only one God, Elia?
Yes, there is only one.
The Ten Commandments say: Thou shalt have no other God before me.
- And where is God, Joel? - In Heaven, on Earth and in every place.
Because He is immense.
And God is immensely merciful and forgives us,
obviously if we are sincerely repentant.
- How many times? - Seventy times seven!
Good.
Edgardo, come to the sitting parlor, your mother is here.
Edgardo, God knows all, even our thoughts.
How are you?
Well.
How have they dressed you?
It's the school uniform, everyone wears it.
Papa isn't here?
No.
Do you eat well?
Yes.
Aren't you cold at night?
No, it's warm.
You're wasting away.
Signora, he's gained weight.
And how are you sleeping?
Well.
- And this? - They gave it to me.
But why did you put it on?
If you wear it, it means you're no longer Jewish.
Your son is no longer Jewish, he's Christian.
My son is Jewish!
You are the ones killing him!
You should be ashamed.
Ashamed.
Just as I feared, we were wrong to be trusting.
Bid each other goodbye, without delay.
I promise you, you'll come home.
You'll go home to your siblings,
trust your mother.
I recite the Shema every night, even in the morning, I swear.
Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.
I know.
I want to go home to my siblings.
I know!
I want to go home to my siblings!
Mama!
I want to go to my mama!
Stop.
I want to go home!
Mama!
Calm down, hold still.
Stay calm!
Nothing happened!
You'll see your mother again!
We're doing it for your own good, and that of your mother.
Calm yourself, nothing happened!
Edgardo, calm down.
She will convert and you'll always be together.
You have to be calm, nothing happened.
Stop!
Try to be tranquil, we're doing it for your own good.
You have to be calm, nothing happened!
You're a good boy, right?
Isn't that right?
Everything will be fine. Don't worry.
You're tired.
Good boy.
Through this holy anointing may the Lord forgive you
for the sins you have committed, amen.
By site, hearing, smell,
and taste, amen.
Let us pray for little Simone,
whom God has called to Him, just a few days after his baptism.
Simone was very fortunate.
- Yet we prayed. - Just like the rector told us to.
We must be happy for him.
We haven't prayed enough, then.
I prayed a lot, but a few times I fell asleep.
And he will rejoin his mortal vestments on Judgement Day.
Was it all pointless?
- What do we have to do? - A farewell, the sign of the cross.
It's not him!
Stay calm, nothing has happened.
Let's continue.
Let's resume.
Your Holiness.
We, the stewards and the rabbi of this meager community of Jews in Rome,
stand before the throne of Your Excellencies and Your Holiness,
with feelings of sincere submission and subservience.
With the supplication that you honor us with benevolence,
we permit ourselves to ask
the Most High to concede lasting peace
and serenity to the Supreme Pontiff,
happily reigning.
"Sincere submission and subservience"...
What great proof of submission you gave us this past year
when you wreaked havoc all over Europe for the Mortara affair.
Actually we didn't...
Yes, you, the Roman Jews.
And there are suspicions you conspired
in the attempted abduction of the young Mortara,
profaning the house of God.
Your Holiness, we are totally uninvolved.
Yes, yes, we'll investigate.
And you, Scazzocchio,
you were mad, not to mention a scoundrel.
You barged into newspaper offices, you spread lies,
you even dared to go to the editorial offices of La Civilté Cattolica.
But the newspapers can write whatever they want.
I know, you thought
such mayhem was the perfect occasion to further your cause.
No! We aren't responsible for those articles,
actually I endeavored to halt their publication,
I even chastised the family for it.
It's true, I went to the offices of La Civilté Cattolica,
but I did it to shed some light on the circumstances,
given my role as secretary of the community.
Lower your voice.
And kneel down.
Have you forgotten whose presence you are in?
I ask for forgiveness, Your Holiness.
It's knowing we are innocent that drove me
to cross the line.
Careful.
I could hurt you, very badly.
I could force you back into your hole.
Do you remember when the ghetto gate was closed from dusk to dawn,
or have you already forgotten?
The pity I feel for you is so strong that I forgive you.
I must forgive you.
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope, hail.
To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
Hold on.
Today was a wonderful day
and I am pleased to celebrate with you
the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Can someone...
tell me what a dogma is?
Dogma is a truth of faith,
in which you believe without asking questions, without debating,
because it comes directly from God.
Good, Edgardo.
You cost me dearly, but you have amply repaid me.
God performed a miracle,
confounding the scoundrels who wanted to kidnap you,
but luckily you're still with us.
Three, four, five,
six, seven, eight,
nine, ten.
Home for Diego!
Where's Edgardo?
Edgardo, where are you?
Where's he gone?
Home, everyone's safe!
BOLOGNA, 1859
The city rises up against the Pope's government
Long live Italy!
Long live liberated Bologna!
Expel the Pope from Bologna!
Knock it down!
Your Holiness!
Easy.
Your Holiness.
"Those who have fomented the rebellion in the provinces
of our Papal State,
and have promoted
its illegal annexation,
as well as their mandators, accomplices
and whoever else encouraged
the realization of that described above,
have incurred major excommunication
and other ecclesiastical censures and penalties
imposed by holy canons.
And if necessary,
we will strike them anew with excommunication and anathema."
- Reverend, the Royal Guard. - I know.
What do you want?
"Friar Feletti Pier Gaetano of the Order of Preachers,
former Holy Office inquisitor,
by order of the Royal Provinces of Emilia,
I declare you under arrest for having ordered the forced separation
of the child, Edgardo Mortara, from his own Israelite family
on the grounds of presumed baptism.
The separation occurred in Bologna, on the night of June 24th, 1858."
It's an absolutely biased act.
I deem my arrest
to be coming from an authority without jurisdiction,
as a regular priest,
directly appointed by the Supreme Pontiff to the Holy Inquisition of Bologna.
I simply have to execute your arrest
and deliver you to Torrone Prison, so follow me.
...hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted...
I am Judge Carboni.
You were a judge as well, now the laws have changed,
the new government abolished the Tribunal of the Holy Office...
What?
Beforehand, I would like to make it clear
that the decisions, the judgments of the Church
are not subject to any other authority
of an inferior position.
I am only here to ask you
how you came to know
that the Mortara child, although an Israelite, had been baptized.
These are queries
pertaining to proceedings of the Holy Office.
And my lips are sealed,
bound as I am by an oath,
of the utmost sanctity...
But who could have informed the Roman Church?
I am trying to make you understand
that I cannot add any other words to those dictated.
Let Momolo Mortara in.
January 30th, 1860 Court of Bologna
Closed court trial of Father Pier Gaetano Feletti,
former Bologna Holy Office inquisitor
Well then, Signor Mortara,
for how long did Anna Morisi remain in your service?
Six years or so, with a few breaks.
When Edgardo fell ill,
was it Anna Morisi who attended to him?
No, never.
Edgardo was always in the cradle next to our bed, day and night.
Anna Morisi says she performed the baptism of your son
when he was on his deathbed, at six months old.
I know nothing about this.
No one was there.
But I do know he was baptized in Rome in the presence of the Pope,
and I know that it isn't possible to baptize a child twice.
May I interrupt?
It is very probable that it wasn't a true baptism,
but a welcoming ceremony,
of confirmation, precisely, to confirm...
No, it was a baptism, there are dates, documents and a place listed,
the Palatine Chapel.
Let's not digress, answer my question.
In that circumstance, was your son's life in danger?
My son's life was never in danger.
Dr. Sgravoni can also testify to that.
Dr. Sgravoni, how long was the Mortara child sick for?
Two or three days at the most.
But in Anna Morisi's deposition she claims the child
was sick for two months and that he took a turn for the worse.
I never found him seriously ill.
I examined him only once, it was just something minor,
specifically a verminous fever.
- Did he have a high fever? - Nothing alarming.
Signor Lepori, do you remember advising Anna Morisi
to perform the baptism of Edgardo Mortara?
No, I do not recall advising anyone,
much less Anna Morisi,
to perform the baptism of the Mortara child.
Were you ever summoned by Monsignor Feletti
to bear witness to the meeting that supposedly happened
between you and Anna Morisi in that circumstance?
Neven And besides, to bear witness to what?
Given that the meeting never happened...
Anna Morisi claims she spoke with you about it.
It's not true, she's a liar.
My husband manages the Café Brera, on the corner of Via Lame,
the street the Mortaras live on.
I knew their servant well, Signorina Morisi.
You mean Signora Morisi.
She's married and has a child.
Back then, Anna was very friendly
with the German officers stationed in Bologna.
One time she slept with an Austrian soldier
in her bedroom in the Mortaras' home.
The next day, when she ran into me,
she told me all about it.
Then, brazenly, in a loud voice she said,
"Oh, what a romp!
Signora Rosina, what a great romp we had last night!"
- Where's Mama? - She went to bed.
Clean up.
You aren't coming to eat?
I don't feel like it.
How did it go?
Very well.
There aren't any witnesses to the baptism,
which means Feletti committed an abuse of power.
I told them of the second baptism at the Vatican.
And then, they couldn't take a child less than seven years old,
it's written in canon law.
I forgot to tell them that.
He's still there in Rome, all alone,
they fill him with lies.
Will they give me my child back after all this blather?
Yes, they'll give him back, you'll see.
After Feletti's conviction, the Pope will negotiate.
They have to return him to us, or riots will break out.
Yeah, riots...
You're deluding yourself.
Come on, eat with us.
No, I'm not coming.
You go, they're waiting for you.
Put your kippah on.
You open your hand
and satisfy every living creature with your kindness.
I offer to suffer the punishment
that could be inflicted on any other person involved in this case,
not even excluding the Jew, Momolo Mortara.
Signora Morisi,
why only after seven years
did you feel the need to reveal to Monsignor Feletti
that you had baptized Edgardo Mortara?
Why did you wait so long?
Well, I'm a good Christian.
I did it to clear my conscience that was weighing on me.
That's why you wanted to baptize him?
To make him a Christian, so upon dying his soul was saved.
Who taught you the wording of the baptismal rite?
Signor Lepori, the grocer,
he taught me, I had asked him for advice.
Signor Lepori denies suggesting you baptize him.
He can yap all he wants, he taught me.
Try to speak intelligibly.
One night I saw the Mortaras
praying next to Edgardo's cradle.
They were holding that book they read when one of them is about to...
to die.
The next day, I went to the grocery store, to Signor Lepori,
and he told me to baptize him,
so he'd go to Heaven.
If someone who isn't baptized dies they go to Limbo.
- They don't burn in Hell? - No, they go to Limbo.
There aren't flames there... it's hard to explain.
But if you don't baptize him, you're the one committing a mortal sin.
But how do I baptize him?
It's easy, take some water, put some drops,
just a few, on Edgardo's head and say these words,
"I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son...
the Sonny... and of the Holy Spirit."
Continue.
I was making the beds,
when I realized
Edgardo was alone in the bedroom.
I got the water from a pitcher on the bench.
And just...
in an instant, I baptized him.
Signor Mortara, I'm sorry, you were always good to me...
Address your remarks to me.
I didn't mean to cause you such grief.
Address me.
Anna, be honest,
you only decided to reveal the baptism
after seven years to Monsignor Feletti because you were offered money.
No, I never got anything.
Be honest, it's best for you.
Yes, it's true, I got money!
I needed the dowry, I had to feed my son!
I know, I've told a lot of lies
but I baptized that child!
I felt sorry for him, I was very fond of that child!
This way he wasn't going to Limbo,
even if in Heaven he was gonna be alone because you are Jews,
but his soul was saved.
In this house, you have received two sacraments,
First Confession and First Communion.
On Saturday, you will receive a third sacrament,
Confirmation, which will make you what?
Soldiers of Christ.
Not just Christians, but soldiers of Christ.
And this will commit you to never disavowing Him.
And also to sacrifice in His name...
what?
Our life.
And even to accept?
Martyrdom.
What did Pius IX respond to protesters
against the removal of the Mortara child?
“Non possumus."
This is his last word.
He could not utter another.
The order, therefore, came from the Pope
and Father Feletti inevitably had to execute it.
How can we prosecute a magistrate
just because he enforced a law pertaining to his office?
When that office still existed.
The new government that follows the old can cancel laws they don't like
but they can't prosecute those who practiced and enforced them.
Then they tried to discredit Anna Morisi in every way possible,
assigning her the worst vices,
of being a thief, a prostitute...
an ingrate, an irresponsible person.
Even admitting that Anna Morisi went
to Monsignor Feletti after seven years
and she revealed her secret to him out of self-interest,
in essence this doesn't change the fact
that the baptism occurred.
They say my client didn't investigate sufficiently,
didn't talk to witnesses.
They say Anna Morisi is the only witness
which is why her testimony wasn't enough.
When it comes to baptism, even a single witness is sufficient.
It is well known that the sole witness,
due to the nature of the act itself,
refers to the same baptizer.
I rest my case, Your Honor.
- Congratulations, Counselor. - Thank you.
The Court is entering.
February 15th, 1860
Let us pray.
I should've said that Edgardo
hadn't yet turned seven when he was kidnapped.
Having invoked the most holy name of God,
the Court declares that on the night of June 24th, 1858
the use of public force was used
to take away from the Israelite couple, Salomone Mortara and Marianna Padovani,
Edgardo, their son,
and that the removal derived from an order by the authorities
beyond the defendant's control and he cannot be held accountable for it.
Elia, I sign thee with the sign of the cross
and confirm thee with the chrism of salvation.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you.
Therefore, there are no longer grounds to proceed
against the enforcer of the removal, the aforementioned Father Feletti,
of the Order of Preachers and former Holy Office inquisitor.
Accordingly, the Court orders that he be released from prison.
What does it mean?
That we lost, the defense strategy won.
But this was an important step,
we put on trial an Inquisition judge,
a name that caused terror just to hear it spoken.
This trial will go down in history.
But my son?
We'll free him when we free Rome.
10 YEARS LATER.
Holy Father!
Are you hurt?
Help him up.
Out of the depths I call to You, Lord.
Lord, hear my cry.
Come forward.
What have you done'?
Just imagine if I say
that Edgardo Mortara wanted to kill the Pope,
after the Pope loved him so much.
You have to do penance.
Kneel down.
Kiss the ground.
It's not enough.
Make a cross three times with your tongue, on the floor.
You see how he obeyed?
Remember, priests take a vow of obedience.
Now I bless you.
But next time be more careful.
September 19th, 1870
The vanguard of the Italian Army on the outskirts of Rome
Hence the French have abandoned us.
Everyone has abandoned us, Your Holiness.
But we cannot capitulate at the first cannon shot.
We have to fight back
and show we aren't afraid of them!
In war, the price to be paid in human lives is inevitable.
Actually, it's necessary!
We're finished.
We are finished.
If, for the hope of saving ourselves we begin to yield,
they will demand more and more.
Today they'll take the crosier from us,
tomorrow we'll hand over our vestments,
we will relinquish the triple tiara
and we still won't be saved.
They want to bury us.
So we might as well go to the grave
with all the symbols and dignity of our past grandeur.
Let's go.
- Where, Your Holiness? - To the Holy Stairs.
I'm coming too.
No, you are too intelligent.
If worse comes to worst, try to save the treasure.
Let's go.
You stay here.
Pray in silence, please.
SO THE SON OF MAN MUST BE LIFTED UP
September 20th, 1870
- Holy Mother of God. - Pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins...
Edgardo.
What do you want?
I'm taking you home.
I'm not going home.
What are you saying?
My home is here.
I will never recognize your king, because he's a usurper.
I wonder how you can wear that assassin's uniform.
History will brand the crimes you have committed in fiery letters
while exalting the Holy Father,
as great as Christ before Pontius Pilot and Herod.
How can you be on the side of those criminals who kidnapped you?
It wasn't kidnapping.
- It was my free choice. - A free choice?
At six years old?
I'm happy to have embraced Christianity, which is now my religion.
I don't believe in any religion!
You were snatched from our parents!
And by disowning them like this you insult them!
I haven't insulted anyone,
I don't have anything to be ashamed of.
I know very well that Mama and Papa have suffered greatly.
But I'm the master of my life now.
The baptism saved me.
Now go away, my brother.
Go away.
Edgardo, we're leaving.
Virgin Mother, here I am.
Giovanni Maria, are you sleeping?
The Pope is really dead.
February 7th, 1878
Three years after his death, the body of Pius IX
was moved to the Basilica of San Lorenzo.
Into the Tiber!
Criminal! Into the Tiber!
It would've been better to have the gendarmes escort us.
The Pope doesn't want their militia, he doesn't accept their laws.
We don't want the protection of the Kingdom of Italy.
Let's throw that pig into the Tiber!
What're you doing? Stop!
Stop!
Leave him alone!
Leave him alone! He's dead!
Enough!
Edgardo!
Yes!
Let's throw this Pope into the Tiber.
This pig of a Pope! Let's throw him!
Let's throw him into the Tiber!
Into the Tiber!
- Edgardo, what're you doing? - Into the Tiber!
Pig!
Disgusting pig!
Where is she?
Come.
- Do you want something to drink? - No, thanks.
- Wait here. - All right.
They need to be alone.
Come.
Mama.
I've waited a long time for this moment.
You gave me life.
And I...
with baptism...
will give it back to you.
I was born a Jew
and I will die a Jew.
Hear, O Israel:
the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.
What did you want to do?
Our mother is dying and you still keep insisting!
Isn't having ruined her life enough?
You didn't even attend our father's funeral!
Aren't you ashamed?
Blessed is the true judge.
These words which I command you today
shall be upon your heart.
KIDNAPPED