Habemus papam

[Radilo]

Cardinal Rakuul was not impressed by the words of Schmid and Mayer. To rail against politicking, then to go about and doing it yourself was not very sincere. It is better to admit to the nature of elections, even one for pope, than to pretend you are oblivious to it. But this aside, the new pope needs to spend more time trying to bring about peace and love, than lecturing people about condoms and gay sex, the Cardinal thought.

“The next pope needs to put their energy into trying to bring peace and love to the world… not lecturing about petty issues. It is a waste to yell at people about how they are supposed to have sex, when people are dieing of war, famine, and disease. The pope must save souls, but pope can also save lives. The next pope must not shoo people away, but welcome them. The next pope must show love, not spite. We must cast our ballots with this in mind.”

OOC: so how is the whole voting thing actually going to work?

 

[Wieserreich]

"Your Eminence" Schmid spoke, "excuse me when I do not find what God has revealed to us 'petty.' Our faith is our biggest difference from non-governmental, secular organisations that are motivated by ideals, politics, or money. Of course we have no place in the bedrooms of many, but this does not mean we should turn our back against the Scriptures. We are not a corporation, devising marketing schemes to find new customers. We are a Church, a global community of those who believe in a single, common set of religious ideals and fundamentals, if you allow me.

"And, the Church is and remains one of the world's largest organisations involved in charity, and it does this directly or indirectly, such as via monastic orders and other independent organisations. The attention exists, but it needs to be bolstered. We should not discredit the successes of our generous brothers, such as of the Knights Hospitaller and so many anonymous Christians, who all courageously and endlessly contribute towards the well-being of many in rich and poor countries alike.

"The next Pontiff is not going to save lives for the first time. The position is important exactly because it combines the endless and continuous combination of both saving lives as well as souls. Ever since the earliest days of the Church, us, the clergy, have had the duty to stand by the believers, and help and aid them. Many forgot it as the centuries went by, but not all, and the Popes less than most."

 

[Radilo]

“I do not discredit our brothers or the scripture,” rebuffed Rakuul. “I did not say that there has not been much good done by the church, quite the contrary. What I said was that we need to focus more on aid and peace. I commend the work that Marcus Clemens II did regarding the situation in Oltremare, and conflicts elsewhere. I think that we need to continue on with this legacy and expand it. The foreign policy of the Papal States and Christendom must be based on the expansion of such actions.”

 

[Aquitania]

"Brothers, we have gathered here to do the Lord's work and through His guiding light select he who will be the next Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church," came the voice of the Primate of Aquitania, "but as I listen, it is becoming quite evident that at least among ourselves, though united in our devotion to Our Lord and Savior, we are not as united in just how we should serve Him in guiding His Holy Church."

As the attention of the assembled cardinals turned to the direction of the gentle voice, those who have never met Archbishop Alexandre Cardinal Renard were likely surprised that the voice came from such a powerfully built man. A tall man, that even though his cardinal robes his powerful frame was unmistakable, he looked a decade or more younger than his sixty-eight years and suited the vision many have of the warrior-priests of the Templars rather than the teacher and in many ways the conscience of Aquitania.

"I pray to Our Lord that He grant us the wisdom to choose amoung us he who would be the next Vicar of Christ. It is that responsibility we have before us and I must admit, Our Lord has not yet revealed to me just who that one should be. I had hoped that as we spoke amongst ourselves, His Light would shine like a beacon and it would be quite evident to all present who would be the most qualified to lead the One True and Catholic Church, but it seems Our Lord will not make it quite that easy."

"As I have listened it has become evident that there are very strong opinions on the direction the Church should proceed and perhaps the next Pope will lead the in one of those particular directions, and if its God's will, it will be done. Remember though, when we each cast our vote for the next Vicar of Christ, it must not be because he may agree with whatever opinion we as individuals may hold, but because he will be the one best suited to do Our Lord's will. For it is not to us, but to Our Lord, that the Supreme Pontiff will serve."

"Though I do not say set aside our opinions as I too have such opinions on matters of the Church for more reasons than my position with, for the Church has been more than a calling, it has been my home for as long as I can remember. I too advocate peace, for it was war that took my family as it did to so many others, but I also know that there are times when a shepherd must defend his flock from wolves. I also know that when need be, as we saw in Freiheit, it is the Christian soldier that defends those who cannot defend themselves from those who would do Satan's work. It is a sin to start a war, but it is a greater sin to allow great evil to be done when one has the power to stop it."

Renard pauses just for a moment, recalling what he had seen just a short time ago of those that had suffered by the great evil that was the Faust Regime. In an attempt to rid himself of the memory he had brought to the surface, he tries to change less depressing.

"As for charity I personally owe much to the Mother Church as it is into Her loving arms I was placed as an orphan from such a war that the wicked forced upon Aquitania. It was the charity of the Church that gave me both my spiritual and academic education, and it will be through that same Christian charity that will help lift the Otchi from their dispare to the heights of joy that is the glory of Our Lord."

"Though I can testify of many great achievements of the Church that I personally have witnessed, I have also been witness to some of its great failures. The Faust regime in Freiheit comes to mind, apartheid in Radilo too, and though both have been defeated, how much suffering could have been avoided if the Church had not failed in its purpose. The Church once had a duty, which it did successfully for the most part, it was the conscience of Emperors and Kings, and in some cases it still is, but somehow it must again fill that role, not just in the monarchies, but also in the democracies, for remember, the Faust regime and the government that brought about aparthied were both elected. Remember, the will of the people if not tempered by the word of God, can be as great a tyranny as any despot."

 

[Natal]

Bishop Arsenie Daniel stood up to speak again:
"But I don't think that this church is the true one. Todays church needs tolerance to heretic and heathen believes .The church cannot go and manipulate the government like we did in the Dark Ages. Let the government work with the people's mind and let us work with the peoples hearts."

 

[Wieserreich]

The Wieser portion of the conclave immediately began mumbling upon hearing Arsenie Daniel's words. Archbishops and Cardinals Rudolf Schmid and Paul Mayer, the two most influential among the Wieser clergy, were obviously in a state of surprise. The first to speak from among the Wieser bishops was the Bishop of the Imperial Armies, Franz von Wolfenstein, brother of the Count of Wolfenstein.

"Surely, sir, you must jest?" asked Bishop Wolfenstein in obvious disbelief. "This is blasphemy! Heresy and blasphemy!"

 

[Papal States]

Cardinal d'Ursaque, first blinked his eyes filled with surprise. "Monseigneurs, order please". He waited.

"Moneigneurs, I truely believe bishop Daniel has been misinterpreted, we must take into consideration there remains a laguage barriere between mst of us."

"I am sure the reverended bishop meant the Church has to be caring and open towards all wo are seeking for redemption, for a safe heaven. And indeed, this church isn't the true one, in the meaning the Church as a temporaly manifestation is lead by humans, and therefor needs to be humble towards all sinners who come to sense. We are not better because we served the Lord for years".

"But, Mgr. Daniel, I'm sure you agree on the old dogma: extra ecclesiam salus nulla est -outside the Church there is no salvation. One flock, on Devine Shepherd".

He waited.

"Monseigneurs, I think some of the discussions lead us away from the real purpose of this meeting. Theological arguments are to be dealt wih in other ways. Shall we all bring foreward possible candidates?"

 

[Natal]

"Yes. I think that we should start the vote."

 

[Papal States]

*first round voting: you know how many votes you have. PM me with the votes you give to which candidates - the voting is secret. If you have 4 votes for exemple, you can give from 1 vote to 4 candidates to 4 votes to 1 candidate.

Pls put the name of the country first and total amount of votes, like this
Papal States - 34 votes
15 votes to A
10 votes to B
6 votes to C
3 votes to D

Names of candidates can still be put under this message, as well as further discussion. Voting ends saturday 12.00 hr (IRL Rome-Paris-Brussels-Berlin time), but could end sooner if all votes are in.

 

[Aquitania]

When Renard hears what could be considered blasphemy, he straightens to his full six-foot-three height and turns his gaze to the Gorno-Altai Cardinal.

"Am I hearing right, Monseigneur, that you, a Cardinal and Prince of this Church, do not believe that this is the One True Church? I do pray that you have misspoken, and this is not your true belief."

Pausing to let what he said sink in, he now becomes the teacher giving a lesson.

"You say that this Church needs tolerance to heretic and heathen beliefs, do you have any particular heathens or heretics in mind? Just how much more tolerant must the Church become? This Church has been tolerant, perhaps too tolerant, as much evil has been done by many of those self same heathens and heretics you say we must be even more tolerant of. Does this Church need to become so tolerant that it compromises the very foundations it was built on? I am sorry, I have seen far too much suffering in the name of tolerance for me to accept it as the ultimate goal of this Church."

"It is compassion that is this Church shows each time a soul is saved from sin rather than the toleration of the continuation of the sinning. It is the compassion of this Church that brings relief to those that are suffering rather than toleration of the continuation of that suffering. It was compassion for those that were suffering that brought this Church to oppose aparthied rather than tolerate its continued existance. It is compassion for those of the One True Faith in Oltremare and not the toleration of that heretical government that moved His Holiness Marcus Clemens II to act. And it will not be for any tolerance had for the Faust regime but instead the compassion this Church has for the Otchi people that will in the end be shown as the greatest victory in that war. It is compassion that this Church must strive for and not tolerance, for to tolerate sin is in itself a sin."




OOC: Sorry for the late posting, I started this much earlier, but was called away from my computer before I could finish.

 

[Natal]

"But, can you tell me, what is better:
A world in which the people believe in God because they want so, or a world in which the people say they believe in God just to save their lives from the church's inquisitors?"

 

[Guiana]

Cardinal George Harte had remained quite, as he had assumed that the discussion would be dominated by those Cardinals from Gallia and Germania, what surprised him was being said by those non-traditional such regions as Himyar and Westernesse, and especially from the Primate of Aquitania.

"Monseigneur, before we begin casting our votes, I wish to submit the name of Archbishop Alexandre Cardinal Renard for consideration."

 

[Papal States]

"The esteemed Archbishop is added to possible candidates".

 

[Aquitania]

"The Church no longer sanctions the types of practices that you are alluding to so the question is moot and quite beneath you. A soul is saved when he or she renounces the sin and accepts Jesus Christ as his or her savior, not because that person is fearful of being tortured or burned at the stake. Though I imagine there are some that may actually still do that today, maybe even some of those that you have proposed that this Church be tolerant of."

 

[Great Engellex]

Henry Edward Cardinal Manning, the Archbishop of Southwark, had remained entirely absent from the vibrant discussions, and was quite wise to do so. It was rapidly becoming apparent at just how divorced the Catholic Church of Engellex and Blois was from the progression and advancement of the status and priority of specific policies of the Church. In a way it alarmed him, not necessarily because it was feared that the Catholic Church of Engellex and Blois could find itself alienated and isolated, but because the suggestions being put forward for the Church to adopt as policy were completely incompatible with social customs and tolerance within the Free Union, and would cause issue.

The Archbishop of Nouvelle Valmy, Paul van Eyk, caused much deliberation on how best Henry Edward Cardinal Manning should proceed in the face of this rapidly approaching liberalisation, this threat. To even so much as contemplate changing the position of the Church on matters such as contraceptives and sexuality was absurd, and such reform would be damaging to the position of the Church internationally and absolutely destructive to it’s position within the Free Union. This Desmond Rakuul’s future within the Church was considered with great suspicion and distrust, for the Archbishop of Southwark, the reasoning and justification for the move to the left utterly eluded the Archbishop. It was not reasonable and certainly not justified.

Observations from Rudolf Cardinal Schmid on the development of the discussions into political campaigning seemed obvious. Were these men not a class of more dignified politicians? Well, that is the perception held within the Free Union. After all the Catholic Church of Engellex and Blois wields great influence and power within the country, not just from it’s dominance on the education and health system, but also from the position it holds within the Court and the legislature. The Church is endorsed by the state, and in the face of great change throughout the continent and the wider world, religion and politics have continued to remain intertwined within the Free Union. Which also gives understanding to why the Archbishop of Southwark cannot share the expressed desperation on the future place of the Church within society, against apparent secularism and Islam.

Prudence would have to be taken in regards to voting to ensure a most suitable Pontiff. It had already been agreed by the Primate of Engellex and Blois, the Archbishop of Southwark, that putting forward a candidate from the Free Union would ineffectual, and could allow a possible election of one these reformists. Henry Edward Cardinal Manning would be quite eager to express his preference of candidate to the other Cardinals.​

 

[Papal States]

Cardinal d'Ursaque listed the names of candidates endorsed during the discussions and given to him on paper:

Jean-Michel Rochambeau, born in Montellimar, 26 june1936.
Jean Louis Tauran, born 12th August 1949 in Belmont.
Arsenie Daniel, born Gorno-Altai.
Vincent Tattiglia, born Papal States, 74 years old but living in Ascalon since he was 16.
Rudolf Cardinal Schmid, born in Wiese.
Alexandre Renard, born in Aquitania.
Desmond Rakuul, born in Radilio.

 

[Sheridan]

All of Ascalon's cardinals are voting for Vincent Tattiglia.

 

[Papal States]

noted, but we go for a secret voting, even if it is obvious...

 

[Großlausitz]

The leader of the Franconian faction among the College of Cardinals and his colleagues had watched the debate silently but nevertheless with great interest. Thomas Cardinal Maurer, Archbishop of Nürnberg-Kornburg and Primus Franconiae, had sympathies and the Franconian cardinals had sympathies for three candidates. The Aquitanian claimant for the papal throne was their favourite, but the Franconians felt the time wasn't ripe for a Southern pontiff yet. This left the Montelimarian and Wieser cardinals.

Whereas their fellow Lutherans had some nationalistic approach, which came down to the motto 'crown and church', Cardinal Maurer was aware that it would be against the very nature of the Catholic Church to be nationalistic. Catholic bishops were the natural enemies of drawing borders overly strictly. Why not have a Wieser pontiff? That way the Lutherans would have to run for their money., he pondered.

 

[Papal States]

Cardinal d'Ursaque was collecting and counting the votes. Almost half of the votes were in now. Still, some large delegations hadn't voted yet, including Belmont, Aquitania, Montelimar and Lorraine. Together they represent 64 voting members of the conclave.

The Cardinal wondered how the little delegations would vote? Would they hae a true impact on the voting?