# Why the Pope Lived to Be So Old explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Selma Lagerlöf.

## What happens

Signora Concenza, an old Roman woman, learns that the Pope is gravely ill. Moved by the despair of her son, a priest, and others who depend on the Pope, she prays in an ancient church and resolves to sacrifice her remaining years for his life. After she is struck by apoplexy and dies, the Pope recovers; he learns of her gift and is deeply moved, though he publicly denies it. The Romans, however, believe her sacrifice lengthened his life.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Sacrifice

Signora Concenza offers her remaining years to save the Pope, motivated by love for her children and compassion for the people.

### Death and Mortality

The chapter centers on the Pope's near death, Concenza's fatal apoplexy, and the belief that death can be bargained with.

## Character check-ins

### Signora Concenza

An old Roman woman who sacrifices her remaining years of life for the Pope's recovery.

### Father Verneau

Concenza's son, a priest who hopes for a cathedral appointment and fears the Pope's death.

### Downie

A nurse who tearfully recounts her hope of seeing the Pope again after a leper hospital mission.

## Key lines

> She said that in case they were not glad she might just as well have lived.

She insisted that if her children and the nurses did not show joy, her sacrifice would have been meaningless.

_Concenza's dying wish is for happiness, linking her death to the Pope's recovery._

> God has allowed me to die that he may live. I don't mind dying when I have made so many people happy.

She believes her death is a divine exchange that brings joy to others, and she accepts it willingly.

_This encapsulates the theme of sacrificial love and the belief in a life-for-life bargain._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/why-the-pope-lived-to-be-so-old
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_50_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters