Pactum Serva- A Papal Conclave

[Josepania]

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Once again, Cardinal Dessay of the @Holy Frankish Empire announced. "Brothers, it is time that we move to a vote. As before, for one to win, a 2/3 vote must be secured. Votes remain secret. You will each receive one vote. You are prohibited from speaking once you leave your seat until you have cast your vote. Following the vote, tally, and results announcement, we will break for 30 minutes so that your brother cardinals may answer nature or refresh yourselves. There will be tea, coffee, and water available. It is my honor and duty to declare voting opened."

Cardinal Vargas and the Josepaño delegation were once again the first to stand and cast their votes. Fourteen cardinals cast their votes for Cardinal Lincio from @Meridia, while the two cardinals that remained voted for Cardinal Lahnfeld of @Eiffelland.

 

[Eiffelland]

In the first voting round, Strelecki had already voted for Licinio. He decided to do so again. Von Aschenbach and Purzmann decided to vote for Licinio as well.

Lahnfeld decided to make clear that he was not bribable. He voted for Lévêque again.

Licinio: 3 votes.
Lévêque: 1 vote.

 

[Meridia]

With the vote restarting, the Meridians have formed a voting block, as Donatu Cardinal Buscemi has been convinced to go for a local moderate. The Meridian votes thus were:

Licinio: 5 votes;
Lahnfeld: one vote;​

 

[Cervia]

There was no reason to change the vote, once again, for the church of Cervia, it was of vital importance to support cordials close to their own interest, both voted for His Excellency Licinio.

 

[United Hanseatic States]

Thus far everyone within the Hanseatics had been silent. They represented a hodgepodge of different constituencies and the seven of them had kept to themselves. As it was they felt not particularly drawn to any of the candidates. They had whispered among themselves, and there was a possibility that one would step forward as a candidate, but there was some worry that on an individual level none of them had the clout required to draw in enough votes compared to the bigger nations. This was further complicated by the fact that unlike the others, they did not hail from majority a catholic nation, although they represented majorities in the States they came from, except for one who represented all Catholics of the far northern reaches.

Their silence would continue, but their votes would speak for them: 2 for Camus, 1 for Lahnfeld, 4 for Ortas. This vote was entirely strategic. Not that their votes were entirely coordinated, no. Instead they had whispered amongst each other about how splitting their votes would perhaps assist future better arguments for the candidates. The sole vote for Lahnfeld coming from the far north which held the most leftist Catholics in all of Catholic Christendom. There was also some desire to keep the status quo with another Azilian, but should there be black smoke, it was possible someone from the Hanseatics would toss their hat in the ring.

Licinio saw that Ortas immediately went to work to woo supporters. He turned to Vargas to whisper something about needing to gain more support, as he watched the Caledonians gleefully following Ortas, and asked Vargas to speak with the Eiffellanders.

Licinio then decided to take the bull by the horns and turn towards Camus.

"You eminence, sorry to interrupt," he said, as Camus was sipping on a tea after Ortas left. "I know probably that we had some differences in the past, but I do honestly believe that the Church needs to be led through a pragmatic yet welcoming hand, rather than an iron hand. Us Tiburans know how that works, for in the end, the church and the Holy Frankish Empires are the successors of the political structures that Constantine the Great created. What I want to say, is that, we aspire to form a coalition of pragmatists and moderates, and for that, we believe that yourself and the Franks are probably one of the strongest pillars." Licinio knew that there were some alleged corruption accusations against Camus, but he sighed and went forth. "As you know, probably like the Holy Frankish Empire, the Meridian Crows is for centuries sponsoring the development of the Papal States, something that Cardinal Ortas wishes to cut, despite the fact that the aid comes not out of interest, but rather, out of Christian love and piety. If we will manage to get your support and the other Frankish cardinals, I do propose this continues and knowing your excellent administration skills and your piety, I would wish to work with you and offer you the administration of the Papal Bank, should I manage to be voted as Pope," he said.

Linicio then saw that Ortas went to the Eiffellanders and the Hansa, so he decided to go to the Lomaran cardinal.

"Your eminence, Azilia and Meridia have been great friends and we both have seen eye to eye a lot of times. I do hope, Cardinal Leveque, that you understand how problematic it would be if Ortas and his more reactionary ways come to the supreme power of the Papal State and the Church. We need to be moderate and pragmatic, yet filled with piety and faith in God, rather than dogmatic, like the Caledonians. What I propose is to build a coalition of such pragmatic moderates which would lead the Church and the faithful in what feel to be darkening times. I would propose, should you support us, that you yourself would receive the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of the Papal State, something that would allow you to even start a crusade against antitziganism, and other types of such hateful activities that make the sons of God suffer at the hands of sinners," he said.

As Ortas was approaching now Leveque, he decided to go and speak to the Hanseatic ones. He knew he hit a bit maybe too high with Leveque, but he wanted to keep him as a close friend, because in the next round, he was ready to support him as the face of the moderate faction, and endorse him.

"Your eminence, Cardinal Klossner, I am very sorry to interrupt," he said as he saw the Hanseatic cardinals talking by themselves after Ortas visited them. "I would wish to propose a collaboration between us. You all come from a nation that is as confederated, like Meridia, as it is a mosaic of cultures and faiths. Coming from similar types of nations, we know what it means to exist and to function in an environment where it is for the best to negotiate and compromise, because if not, chaos ensues, compared to monolithic nations like Azilia, something that can be seen in its politics. What I thus want, is to form such a coalition that is moderate and respectful to its members. I understand how the Hansa, being half Catholic, half Lutheran is vulnerable in case all sorts of reactionaries come to power. One only needs to look at the dogmatism of the Caledonians and shudder, especially if it would spill over to Yorck. What I propose is the following. I will offer you the position of Cardinal Secretary of State, that is the equivalent of the Prime Minister of the Papal State, and it will give you ample influence within the Church, so that we can ensure that there is no radical ready to destroy what we and the generations before have built, since the days of our founding father, Saint Peter."​

The Hanseatic Cardinals had come to a decision. It had been a long and tiring process to find a new Pope, but the length in which this Conclave took and the possibilities for the future weighed heaviest on them. They voted as a bloc: 7 votes for Licinio.

 

[Azure Commonwealth]

Cardinal Torcuato Santiago spoke for the entirety of Aurarian Catholics and his confidence was unshaken as he cast his vote for Licinio.

 

[Radilo]

Cardinal Patriarch ZuanGiacomo and the other three Radilan voting age Cardinals also give their votes to the Meridian moderate

Licinio: 4 votes.

 

[Pelasgia]

Cardinal Avgoustinos Palaiokrassas, the sole Pelasgian cardinal, who represented the Empire's traditionally moderate and liberal Catholics, voted for Licinio.

Licinio: 1 vote.

 

[OTW]

Lucius Viktoria wrote down his choice during the grinding of his teeth was clearly audible.

Lahnfeld-1v.

 

[Sylvania]

Cardinal James Trapani and the other four cardinals voted as a bloc for Lahnfeld, preferring a more conservative pope.

5 votes for Lahnfeld

 

[Josepania]

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Cardinal Dessay looked as eyes were upon him, the Cardinals eagerly waiting. He cleared his throat on the small dais. "Brother Cardinals, the voting is complete and the results have been tallied. Please remain silent as I announce the names in order of votes from least to most. When completed, we shall consider ourselves to be on a quarter hour break for nature. Upon returning, we will vote again if no Pope has been selected. If one has, we will still observe a break for nature before returning for the formal ascension of the vote" said Dessay.

"Cardinal Lévêque of @Lomara, 1 vote.
Cardinal Lahnfeld of @Eiffelland, 7 votes.
Cardinal Licinio of @Meridia, 37 votes."

There was a mostly quiet explosion of emotions that washed over the Conclave. Some jubilation, others disappointment, still others outrage, but above all there was a palpable sense of relief that the Conclave was finally over. "With Cardinal Licinio having received over 2/3rds of the total vote, we have a new Pope. Cardinal Licinio, acceptasne electionem de te canonice factam in Summum Pontificem?"

Through it all, Cardinal Vargas was, next to Cardinal Licinio perhaps, the most pleased. He had succeeded in helping get Cardinal Licinio, perhaps the most progressive, realistic candidate for Pope elected. He had been offered nothing official for his hard work, but he knew that the soon-to-be Meridian Pope also knew he had been indispensable in the effort. It was an effort that seemed a long-shot from the start but, as confirmed by the Holy Spirit, it was ordained by God and meant to be. There would be rewards for himself and for the Imperio Josepaño, and through both a chance to guide the Papacy towards a vision he and his brother Liberationists believed made the church more relevant than ever in the modern day, despite the disagreements from other, more traditionalist cardinals who he expected were none too pleased with the results. Their resentments and potential sabotage would have to be thwarted too...