Maybe this is more a Godfather IV what-if question, but I'm curious as to what people think would have happened in the aftermath of the opera house attack.

I'm thinking more the Immobiliare deal than with the criminal side of the family. To my mind the Corleone crime organization was well and truly in Vincent's hands now, and chief lieutenants like Al Neri had sworn their fealty to him.

But Immobiliare was now Michael's, and he had made the final split between the legitimate and criminal parts of his empire by handing the latter over to Vincent.

The possibilities that come to mind are:

1. Anthony changes his mind and takes over the now fully legitimized part of the Corleone business.
2. Michael sells his business empire as he goes into permanent seclusion and exile in Sicily.
3. Michael still keeps his fingers on the strings, even if somewhat indirectly (he could have a proxy on the board, someone like Connie).
4. Other members of the family (like Connie or Sonny's children) take over.
5. Vincent takes control of the Corleone's legitimate business interests, including Immobiliare.

Michael cashes out, bestows lots of money on Kay, Anthony, Connie, Neri, etc., and lives in seclusion in Sicily until he dies like a dog.
Vinnie goes back to the Street cause thats what he knows, and maybe rehooks up with Brigit Fonda.

DT, I agree with all you suggest except Vinnie's role. I think Vinnie would have tried to continue the hegemony of the Corleones in NY, but would have been successfully challenged by the other families.

I question whether Michael would have gotten Immobiliare. Didn't he need the Vatican's assent? Cardinal Lamberto may have been on his side, but Lamberto was murdered. Who took his place? And, though he arranged for Lucchese to be killed, did that guarantee that all blocks to his acquisition of Immobiliare were removed? The violence at the opera house, coupled with all those assassinations that could be linked to Michael's interests, may have permanently put the kaibosh on Michael and Immobiliare.

I think the real poignancy of Michael's wail after Mary died was his realization that all of his lifetime struggles came to naught. Maybe, after a lifetime of trying to be "strong" for his family, Michael finally succumbed to weakness and despair. I think it's possible he simply walked away from the family enterprises and never left Sicily. If that happened, Vincent, whom he had anointed as "Vincent Corleone," would have made a claim for everything. I don't see Anthony as a player--the murder of his sister would have deepened his revulsion for the family business. Connie may have thought herself a player, but I doubt she would have challenged Vincent.

Exactly TB. As one of the Vatican meeting participants stated (paraphrase):"If the Pope dies, then as you Americans say, all bets are off." The Pope had to ratify the sale of Immobliere.

Yes, Michael's silent scream was, as you state, Michael's realization in that moment that everything in his life was for nothing. "I spent my life protecting my family." He failed because of his avarice; the depression wold have been overwhelming.

Just so I'm not misunderstanding, it was my understanding the Pope had consented to the Immobliere deal just hours before he was poisoned. Michael and Vincent tried to save the Pope, but were too late.

So Michael now controlled Immobliere.

I think he did get Immobiliare, but after Mary's death it meant nothing to him. I think he would have cashed out, and the European guys gladly paid.

There's nothing in the film to indicate whether or not the Pope ratified Michael's acquisition of Immobliere. Given that that part of the film is based on Pope John Paul I's untimely death followed by Pope John Paul II's administration, I don't think we can assume that Immobliere was ratified. However, if it was, it was a moot point for Michael as DT expresses.