Lino Banfi, 87 years old, today takes part in the event The caress and the smile in the Paul IV hall. Pope Francis will meet 6 thousand grandparents and grandchildren. And in an interview with Corriere della Sera the actor says that he has already developed a certain confidence with Jorge Mario Bergoglio: «I always tell him, Pope Francis. “Your Holiness, when you feel a little angry, ask me to call and I’ll take care of it”. She took me at my word. Our friendship has been consolidated for a year, the Holy Father has made me understand that he likes me. We see each other more often and laugh a lot. “When you come, it’s more peaceful,” they confirmed to me. I have the nerve, jokingly I remind him that we are the same age, but that I am six months older and therefore he must respect me as an elder.”
The invitation
Banfi reveals that «it was Pope Francis himself who wanted to invite me, through Monsignor Paglia, who promoted me to “grandfather of Europe”. How to win an Oscar. And I, in front of all those grandparents and grandchildren, will name him the abuelo del mundo, the grandfather of the world.” And they became friends: «Two months ago, when we met for the last time, I jumped in: “Your Holiness, you say we are friends. So let me ask you a favor. Would you like to take a photo with me? And when he got up from the chair, I dared again: “Take that stick away though, you don’t need it, we’re two kids.” And so we took that photo of just the two of us, arm in arm.”
The documentary film
The actor makes it known that he is also working: «Since we’re at it, I want to announce that I will make a documentary film about my life, while I’m still here, better right? And I will write a book, the title is: I made three Popes laugh.” Meanwhile he is the ideal grandfather. «I learned it well. First on the set of Un Doctor in the Family, 286 episodes. And then, when I returned home, with my grandchildren Virginia and Pietro, Rosanna’s children, now two “grandchildren””.
