The Cure by Lera Nikitina

If I go to Hell,
an endless press conference will be my punishment. The press conference, where I will be made to explain why the Pope opposes the ultimate cure of humanity. Just like the one I finished ten minutes ago. I hope she’ll at least apologise for this mess. When I enter the room she is alone, gazing at empty Piazza San Pietro.
‘Year by year the Church has made a tiny step back, straight to the Hell and now we are standing on a cliff edge.’ Her voice remains quiet but the hands are not calm.
‘I understand Your concern, Your Holiness.’ I say without a shadow of understanding.
‘I am not concerned, Stef, I am horrified. This thing, it is beyond,’ she stops and closes her eyes. Perfect time to interfere.
‘The Church always rejects all new. But these changes are inexorable. Your Holiness, only century ago you’d be unable to lead the Church.’ I know that gonna piss her off. ‘This technology is a true gift. People from Geneva created a lifeblood, no less.’ I need to be careful with my admiration. ‘Think about all those kids, cured of horrible diseases.’
‘You don’t give a shit about kids.’ She looked directly into my eyes. No good. ‘You are struggling for immortality, cardinal Traumer. You’ll give a lot for that, right? “The words of the Pope were misinterpreted.” Ridiculous. I said the Cure would never be accepted by Church and by me and I mean it. It’s pretty straightforward isn’t it, Stef? You are my spokesman for God’s sake, I expect you to be on my side.’
‘I am!’ Well, that was insulting. ‘I just want to say, that old-fashioned concept of afterlife interferes with the vision of the new reality.’
‘Do not call my faith old-fashioned, boy. You are sure that the old lady drove crazy in her sympathy to the death. But you don’t see it yet. Death brings meaning, Stef. The Heaven is no bigger than an illusion, a fairy tale nobody believes in anymore. But death is different. Death makes people become better. The only possible price and the only limitation. It is not a minor inconvenience, it is a necessity. The immortal creatures in the future you desire, won’t be people. At best they will achieve all their goals and try all the treats on earth and then they will bore. At this point, they will have an eternity in front of them. An eternity where there is nothing to do, nowhere to go, nothing to explore. Do you see my point?’
That’s enough.
‘I am not here for philosophical discussions, mom! You have a few months if we are lucky. I’ve started the negotiations with Geneva. They sent the Cure to the Vatican. I beg you to accept it and then you can be stubborn for eternity.’
‘You are such a sweet boy, Stef. Too bad, you unable to listen to me at all.’ She takes my hand. It is her goodbye.

‘It is fine, Stef. You should celebrate tonight. When I die, nobody will stand between the world and this horror. I’ll pray for you. I’ll pray for all of you.’
‘I love you, mom.’
***
It is my duty as her spokesman for God’s sake.
‘Pope Pius XX have passed away this night. God bless her soul.’