El padrecito

An elderly priest, Father Damián, learns he will be replaced by a younger priest. He expresses dread at leaving the parish and initially resists the incoming assignment. The news sets in motion a clash of personalities and allegiances that will define the coming months.

The new priest, Father Sebastián, is assigned to the parish amid widespread indifference from the town. Damián and his sister Sara greet him with cold disdain, while Susana, Sara's daughter, becomes the first resident to warmly welcome him. The scene establishes the fragile balance between acceptance and resistance he will face.

Damián and Sara make their opposition clear, signaling the town's initial resistance to Sebastián's leadership. The townspeople's indifference underscores the uphill path the new priest faces. Sebastián senses the emotional hurdles as he tries to win their trust.

Sebastián begins to win people over with unconventional counsels about duties in a modern society. He stays true to Catholic doctrine while challenging the status quo, which earns both admiration and skepticism. His approach starts to shift the town's behavior and attitudes.

In a controversial moment, Sebastián refuses to baptize a child because the chosen name sounds ugly. This decision sparks debate about the limits of reform and tradition within the parish. It marks Sebastián's willingness to make provocative choices in pursuit of a perceived greater good.

Sebastián confronts Marcos in a tense public encounter, using a forceful stance to challenge the local power broker. The skirmish heightens Don Silvestre's enmity and raises the stakes for Sebastián's mission. The town watches as political fault lines begin to appear around the priest.

In a bold move, Sebastián uses the collection plate to redistribute the town's wealth to the poor. The action embodies his radical approach to social justice and challenges the town's economic hierarchy. It earns him both praise from the disadvantaged and fierce backlash from the wealthier factions.

Officials accuse Sebastián of spreading communist ideas, prompting a defense referencing the 1891 encyclical Rerum novarum. He frames his ideas as a Catholic social mission rather than political subversion. The exchange heightens the clash between reformist zeal and conservative authority.

He ventures into politics through a sermon that contains a veiled attack on the municipal president. The speech signals his intent to influence civic life from the pulpit, blurring lines between church guidance and political critique. The town's leaders react with suspicion, fearing the priest's growing clout.

Sebastián brokers an irregular deal with Don Silvestre to secure concessions for the parish's poor. The negotiation shows his willingness to use pragmatic, even questionable tactics for the sake of social relief. It further unsettles his opponents and cements his role as a controversial reformer.

Bishop Juan José Romero arrives to assess Sebastián's place in the parish. To win favor, Sebastián pretends to harbor even more radical ideas, testing whether theatrics can influence judgment. Romero looks beyond showmanship to consider the priest's true impact.

Romero ultimately allows Damián to remain, asserting that Sebastián's theatrics were not what saved him but his own energy and determination. Sebastián receives a tenfold farewell from the crowd as he departs. The bishop's verdict reinforces that lasting change comes from steadfast resolve rather than sensational acts.