“When, Your Holiness?”
“Soon, I will summon you.”
Meanwhile the advancing shadows had engulfed the white figure and the black one. His Holiness placed his hand on Benedetto’s shoulder and asked him softly, almost hesitatingly:
“Do you remember the end of your vision?”
Benedetto, bowing his head, answered, also in a low tone:
“Nescio diem, neque horam.”
“The words are not in the manuscript,” His Holiness continued; “but do you remember?”
Benedetto murmured:
“In the Benedictine habit, on the bare earth, in the shade of a tree.” “Should it happen thus,” the Holy Father said gently, “I would wish to bless you in that moment. Then I shall be awaiting you in Heaven.”
Benedetto knelt down. The Pope’s voice sounded very solemn in the darkness: