Cardinal Messias (1939)
Abuna Messias (original title)

Cast

Credited cast:
	Camillo Pilotto	...	Il cardinale Guglielmo Massaia, detto "Abuna Messias"
	Enrico Glori	...	Il re Menelik
	Mario Ferrari	...	Abuna Atanasio
	Amedeo Trilli	...	Ghebrà Selassié, il consigliere di Alem
	Berchè Zaitù Taclè	...	La princessa Alem
	Ippolito Silvestri	...	Il re Johannes
	Franz Sala	...	Il marchese Antinori (as Francesco Sala)
	Roberto Pasetti	...	Padre Leone
	Corrado Racca	...	Il conte Di Cavour (scenes deleted)
	Michael	...	Morka
	Abd-el-Uad	...	Abu Beker, il capo indigeno
	Enzo Turco
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	Oscar Andriani	...	Padre Reginaldo Giuliani (in prologue) (scenes deleted)

Storyline

The film takes place at the end of the 19th century. The Cardinal Guglielmo Massaia has spent 20 years in Ethiopia to convert people to the Catholic Church. He comes back to Italy and he tries to get the help of the government of Piedmont. The Count Cavour, although he appreciates the Cardinal's deeds in Africa, cannot grant his Cabinet's support to the Cardinal's plans. The missionary man, trusting the Divine Providence, goes back to Africa by himself. The Cardinal, who is known among the people as Abuna Messias, becomes a friend of king Menelik. The support of the king is fundamental to spread his word and accomplish his mission. The Head of the Coptic Church, Abuna Attanasio, does whatever he can to prevent Massaia from reaching his goals and to get him exiled from Ethiopia. Menelik refuses to help Abuna Attanasio, who decides to address the Emperor, thus igniting a war between the Emperor and his subject Menelik... Written by manutwo  

Details

Company Credits

Technical Specs