Who Is Father Paul and What Is The Angel in 'Midnight Mass'?

Midnight Mass is Mike Flanagan's latest horror limited series for Netflix, following hits The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor.

Set on the small, isolated Crockett Island, the show follows its residents as they start to witness mysterious happenings following the arrival of new priest Father Paul (Hamish Linklater).

The clergyman may seem mild-mannered and passionate about his craft, but underneath the humble exterior lies a dark secret that will change the island community forever.

Here is everything you need to know about Father Paul, and The Angel, in Midnight Mass. Warning: Major spoilers below.

Who Is Father Paul?

When Father Paul arrives on Crockett Island, he tells the community he is temporarily replacing their elderly priest Monsignor John Pruitt, who traveled to the Holy Land and became unwell on the return journey.

He claims that Pruitt is recovering on the main land, and will be back on his feet in no time to lead them in prayer again soon.

But it soon becomes clear that there's something off about Hill as he knows far more about the islanders than he should, and he starts performing miracles just as horrific events begin to occur.

So who is Father Paul Hill, really? Well, the residents of Crockett Island know him much better than they initially thought because he is none other than Monsignor Pruitt, returned to his younger self.

While in Jerusalem, Pruitt—who was frail and suffering from Alzheimer's—separated from his tour group and wandered into a desert when a sandstorm hits.

Believing himself to be traveling to Damascus, Pruitt comes across a cave which he decides to take shelter in.

It is there Pruitt is confronted by a creature who attacks him and gives him a new lease on life, and who he believes is a messenger of God and dubs "The Angel."

What Is The Angel?

The Angel is a winged creature with terrifying features and claw-like hands that is unable to walk in the sunlight, making it seem less like an angel than one might expect.

When it comes face-to-face with Pruitt The Angel attacks him and drains him of his blood, giving the priest a taste of its own in return and bringing him back to life as his younger, healthier self.

Given the way it attacked Pruitt and brought him back to life, The Angel is more likely a vampire than a messenger of God.

Its blood also has healing qualities and this is proven when Pruitt, in the guise of Father Paul, gives it to residents as part of communion and their health improves, like Leeza Scarborough (Annarah Cymone) who is able to walk again despite being paralyzed from the waist down.

While it's never explicitly referred to as a vampire, The Angel has blood that also leads residents to have an unnatural craving for blood and burn in the sun, suggesting they have also become vampires.

Midnight Mass is available to stream in full on Netflix now.