Padre Nazario, a Catholic priest living in a poor hotel, is quiet, temperate and distributes his money, even indifferent to being burgled. He demonstrates understanding and compassion to those such as Beatriz, who has psychotic episodes and suicidal thoughts after being cast aside by her lover, Pinto. A prostitute, Andara, runs into Nazario's room seeking shelter; she has murdered another prostitute and been wounded. Nazario withholds judgement and helps and conceal her. He tries to make her conscious of her guilt. Andara dreams a portrait of Jesus Christ is laughing at her. Beatriz warns someone has informed the authorities and offers to hide them, hoping the police will hang her. The proprietress finds out and insists Andara must not be discovered with Nazario, ordering Andara to remove evidence of her stay. But after Nazario leaves, Andara sets the room ablaze and escapes. With Nazario now afoul of the law and church and warned an investigation could cost him his ministry, he adopts plain clothes and wanders the country, begging. Meeting a construction crew, he offers to work for food, but other workers resent him, surmising they will lose earnings, and make him unwelcome. Nazario leaves with nothing, sparking a fight between the workers and the foreman. Nazario runs across Beatriz and reveals his possessions have been stolen. She leads him to Andara and a sick girl whose mother begs Nazario to cure the girl with a miracle. Nazario suggests a doctor, but offers to pray with them. He is perturbed when the woman performs superstitious rites. The girl's fever subsides. Believing Nazario to be a miracle-worker, Andara and Beatriz follow him dspite his protests. Nazario stops to help a party whose horse has a broken leg. The Colonel yells at a peasant who does not acknowledge them, despite the peasant's protestations that he didn't see them. Nazario criticises Colonel for his rudeness. The Colonel tries to pull his gun, but is stopped by the Priest, who excuses Nazario as "a heretic, an erratic preacher" who should be left alone. Nazario is followed by Beatriz and Andara, whom he reluctantly accepts, although lecturing them about God. In a plague-ridden village, Nazario's help is rejected by one dying woman, who would rather be comforted by her husband. Nazario is overcome by a feeling of failure. A midget professes love for Andara despite saying she is ugly. Pinto, who is visiting the area, sees Beatriz, accuses her of being "a priest's lover" and demands that she leave with him. Nazario says she is struggling with Satan but should resist temptation. When she asks how he guessed something was wrong, Nazario responds, "It's not guessing, it's knowing." Andara insists that they must flee. Nazario responds only thieves flee and the divine will not forsake them. Beatriz tells Nazario she trusts him, and quotes from the Bible: "If I can carry your load on my back, I will." Andara accuses Nazario of loving Beatriz more, but he tries to demonstrate a Christian love for both. Discovered by a search party, Andara and Nazario are arrested: Beatriz begs for his release. Pinto tells Beatriz's mother that Beatriz should go with him. When Beatriz meets her mother, Beatriz sings Nazario's praises and speaks of his miracles. Her mother's response that Beatriz loves Nazario "like a man" sends Beatriz into a psychotic episode. Nazario's cellmates insult and physically abuse him. Nazario suffers a crisis of faith, shouting, "For the first time in my life, I find it hard to forgive. But I forgive you. It is my Christian duty. But I also scorn you! And I feel guilty, not knowing how to separate scorn from forgiveness." A cellmate intervenes and Nazario gives him his money. Nazario is accused of insanity and disobedience. As he is led away, Pinto and Beatriz pass by, but without recognition. Nazario passes a fruitseller who offers a pineapple, saying, "Take this charity, and may God be with you." Nazario seems overcome with confusion. At first he refuses, then takes it and says, "May God repay you." He is led away, distraught.
