Two decades have passed and crime kingpin Michael Corleone has nearly succeeded in keeping his promise that his family would one day be legit. A philanthropist devoted to public service, Michael is to receive a special award from the Pope for his good works. Determined to buy redemption, Michael and his lawyer B.J. are working on a complicated but legal deal to bail the Vatican out of looming financial troubles. However, trouble looms in the form of mob underling Joey Zaza, who is muscling into the Corleone turf. "The Commission" of Mafia families, represented by patriarch Altobello doesn't want to let Corleone out of the Mafia. Not to mention Vincent Mancini, the illegitimate and equally temperamental son of Michael's long-dead brother Sonny. urging of Connie, Michael welcomes the young man and allows him to adopt the Corleone name. However, a flirtatious attraction between Vincent and Michael's nave daughter Mary develops, and threatens to become a full-fledged romance and undo the godfather's future plans.