Furlanìe
Establishing Nation
It was not unusual for the bishops to gather in Aquilê, although the Patriarch had full powers and freedom of action under the Pope, it was customary to maintain an healthy dialogue between the powerful figures of the Friulian clergy, to better coordinate the effort of the Patriarchate.
What made this event unusual was actually the lack of meetings in the previous period; the Patriarch had tried to hide his state of health for some time, but the rumours that were coming out of his most private circle forced him to make the situation known; the truth turned out to be even less rosy than what the voices first revealed.
From the large but simple room in which they gathered, a voice attracted the attention of the present and interrupted their murmurings.
"Brothers and friends, good afternoon. You have been called here to be the first to receive the disheartening news that alas we all felt approaching: tonight, our beloved Patriarch, Agostino II, was called back into the arms of the Lord and left his earthly remains in an eternal rest.
I ask you to join me in prayer, to cheer him on his journey, and to comfort our souls"
If not to be the first to know, the meeting was necessary for the difficult decision that now the bishops where asked to make: the election of a new Patriarch, the spiritual guide of the Grand Duchy, which should have been unanimously agreed between the bishops, and obtain the approval from the Pope and the usual appointment as cardinal.
Although historically the metropolitan archbishop of Grau, strong of the large number of faithful under his influence, often obtained power with little competition from the other bishops, by the late evening, 9 of the 24 participants made their candidacy known to the assembly.
As customary, early in the morning of the following day, the bishops reached the burial chamber, where the Patriarch's body had been placed.
As the news began to be broadcasted in the newspapers, radios and televisions of the Grand Duchy, the bishops would remain there, with Agostino II as witness, until the final decision was made.
The evocative atmosphere, and the rigid figure of the deceased Patriarch, worked as almost always, to reduce the number of candidates, and after a simple lunch of bread and water, only 4 remained to contend the title:
the Metropolitan Bishop of Grau,
the Bishop of Turride,
the Bishop of Tumieç,
the Bishop of San Pieri,
What made this event unusual was actually the lack of meetings in the previous period; the Patriarch had tried to hide his state of health for some time, but the rumours that were coming out of his most private circle forced him to make the situation known; the truth turned out to be even less rosy than what the voices first revealed.
From the large but simple room in which they gathered, a voice attracted the attention of the present and interrupted their murmurings.
"Brothers and friends, good afternoon. You have been called here to be the first to receive the disheartening news that alas we all felt approaching: tonight, our beloved Patriarch, Agostino II, was called back into the arms of the Lord and left his earthly remains in an eternal rest.
I ask you to join me in prayer, to cheer him on his journey, and to comfort our souls"
If not to be the first to know, the meeting was necessary for the difficult decision that now the bishops where asked to make: the election of a new Patriarch, the spiritual guide of the Grand Duchy, which should have been unanimously agreed between the bishops, and obtain the approval from the Pope and the usual appointment as cardinal.
Although historically the metropolitan archbishop of Grau, strong of the large number of faithful under his influence, often obtained power with little competition from the other bishops, by the late evening, 9 of the 24 participants made their candidacy known to the assembly.
As customary, early in the morning of the following day, the bishops reached the burial chamber, where the Patriarch's body had been placed.
As the news began to be broadcasted in the newspapers, radios and televisions of the Grand Duchy, the bishops would remain there, with Agostino II as witness, until the final decision was made.
The evocative atmosphere, and the rigid figure of the deceased Patriarch, worked as almost always, to reduce the number of candidates, and after a simple lunch of bread and water, only 4 remained to contend the title:
the Metropolitan Bishop of Grau,
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. a strongly conservative figure, highly loyal to the Pope, with the clear objective of strengthening the power of the church over the nation.the Bishop of Turride,
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. a liberal man from a family of Aurarian origins, with the hope to make some steps towards a less invasive Patriarchate, with concessions to abortion and an easier divorce process.the Bishop of Tumieç,
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. a man of the arts, that would change the focus from dogmatism to culture, and with the dream of transforming the Patriarchate into a national and international patron of the arts.the Bishop of San Pieri,
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. conservative, with the desire to detach further the Patriarchate from the control of the Pope, and evangelise the peoples under the yoke of communism.