Chapter 1087: Chapter 1028: The 6th Duke’s Council Officially Begins!
Regarding the challenge to his identity, Horn had long anticipated it: "It’s the Pope."
The ceremonial officer immediately showed a perplexed expression: "Then you should present the signature of the Cardinal who nominated you as Pope."
Horn shook his head: "Within the Holy Alliance, there is no such term as the church, or a Cardinal."
Quivarin, the Chief Justice sitting in a corner of the church, gently twitched his drooping eyebrows.
This Horn Gallar shouldn’t have answered like that, doesn’t his country have cardinals?
"Oh?"
A Red-robed Archbishop immediately stood up: "Without an election by the Cardinals, this is not a legitimate papal identity."
Before he finished speaking, Thomas stood up immediately beside him: "Mr. Grandiva also did not have an election by the Cardinals, so why can he stand there?"
"Haha, sorry, our His Holiness Pope Grandiva was elected illegally at Puliano, selected by gathered Cardinals in Oniveia.
How about you? I heard your so-called Pope was chosen by a secret party posing as priests, wasn’t it?"
"Rubbish, our His Holiness Pope Horn was appointed by the Holy Father, Saint Master, and Holy Tree, far more legitimate than your Cardinal elections!"
As Thomas and the Archbishop argued heatedly, Horn subtly turned and asked Mitney beside him: "Who is that?"
Mitney is the director of the Gospel Court’s Falan Division, usually overseeing Falan’s foreign affairs and some intelligence duties.
Mitney thought for a moment and said in a low voice: "That’s the White Sand Archbishop, Rovaluk Desmond, primarily known for asceticism, claiming to fast for life, never eating meat."
Turns out it was caused by long-term vegetarianism.
Looking at the dry, yellow, bearded face, Horn squinted his eyes.
When this bearded White Sand Archbishop spoke, Horn realized this must be Grandiva’s vanguard or a breakthrough striker.
At this moment, inside the hall, Thomas was gradually losing his edge in the conversation.
Thomas, after all, joined halfway, and although he explained the miracle of Horn’s head flying resurrection and Thomas’ revelation insight gained applause from Saint Religion,
other relatively orthodox priests were completely unconvinced, instead subtly resentful.
Horn made a gesture to Rang Buluo on the other side, and Rang Buluo, immediately understanding, stood up.
"Mr. Rovaluk’s statement is completely wrong," Rang Buluo left his seat and walked slowly to the center of the round hall, facing Rovaluk directly.
"What? Isn’t Mr. Horn assuming the position without a Cardinal election? If not, then show the Cardinal’s signature."
Spittle from him sprayed onto Rang Buluo’s face, and his hand almost reached Rang Buluo’s nostrils.
"Firstly, the Holy Alliance is a unified church-state, where Cardinals, or chancellors, are government ministers, or County Governors.
For the nation to run smoothly, the Holy Alliance Pope must have the power to appoint and dismiss these ministers.
Thus, Cardinals electing the Pope is mere talk.
Because to preserve their positions, Cardinals inevitably choose to agree with the Pope’s designated candidate.
The whole Cardinal electoral system is useless and unjust, so we don’t have this signature."
Rang Buluo, with spittle on his face, looked displeased but patiently spoke.
Having experienced rises and falls, his cultivation of patience was much better than when he first met Horn.
Upon hearing this, many priests began whispering to each other; indeed, this made sense.
In comparison, it appeared rather open and honest.
After all, Falan’s Red-robed Archbishops mainly depended on royals and nobility, whether they can fairly elect...
It’s hard to say.
"That still can’t prove the legitimacy of your Holy Alliance Pope!" Rovaluk, aware of this, remained aggressive.
In the debate, one must ignore one’s weaknesses and relentlessly pursue the weaknesses of the opponent.
"Like Purgatory Scorched Earth, the early Miseria Church did not have a concept of papal church.
In the earlier and later two Gospels, along with numerous early Saint Acts, one can see the Believers’ Assembly electing a Pope.
Notably, even the Pope did not appear in the Gospels but evolved from the Holy Seat City’s Archbishop."
Rang Buluo calmly and confrontationally faced the many monks while explaining, stepping on the intricate marble patterns on the floor.
"As is well known, early believers directly elected the Pope.
As believers’ numbers grew, the Cardinal electoral system had to be used.
Originally, Cardinals were nominated by local dioceses, representing the district’s vast believers and priests.
However, later, the Pope began appointing Red-robed Archbishops.
The Pope appoints Cardinals, Cardinals elect the Pope; where did the believers’ and other priests’ opinions go?
In terms of legitimacy, the direct electoral system far surpasses the Cardinal electoral system, not just by an ounce, but by a ton!"
"What’s your purpose in saying this?!" Rovaluk vaguely sensed something amiss and inserted himself into Rang Buluo’s narrative.
Completely ignoring Rovaluk’s words, Rang Buluo raised a roster high: "Coincidentally, our Holy Alliance possesses an Advisory Council and Hundred Households District system, which fully enables the internal believers and priests to elect the Pope.
At this moment, representatives from twenty-four Holy Alliance counties are present; they can fully present the county signatures to everyone.
Pope Rovaluk, with this statement and signatures, can fully prove our Pope represents all Holy Alliance priests and believers.
As for the Grandiva Pope’s signatures, would they only represent those dozen Cardinals? And those dozen Cardinals only represent the Pope?"
"... Truly eloquent!" Rovaluk didn’t expect the Holy Alliance would go to such lengths, forcing many believers to sign this agreement.
But in comparison, indeed Horn’s rhetoric was more recognized.
After all, low-level monks and priests, as well as border priests and archbishops, have been isolated in the Holy Seat’s core for a long time.
Their unmet political claims might even be addressed within the Holy Alliance.
Watching the pale Rovaluk, Quivarin suddenly chuckled: "Interesting."
Being a veteran of politics and theology, Quivarin understood this thoroughly.
Like Purgatory Scorched Earth, the church and papacy were constructs of later priests.
Early church formations organized populations and knights by extraordinary monks to fight epidemics and foreign enemies.
Over time, as extraordinary monks could not stray far from monasteries, special clerical priests emerged onto the historical stage.
Alongside reform movements altering the church by generations of Holy Seat City Archbishops, the current hierarchical church organization emerged.
But Horn’s rhetoric is essentially undermining the church’s roots, denying the church’s role as the "sole interpreter of revelations."
Quivarin could guess this invariably set the stage for the upcoming debate on "interpretation monopoly."
With that, Rang Buluo took a step back: "In terms of legitimacy, I think the two Popes are roughly the same, do the Falan churchmates agree?"
Rovaluk widened his eyes, still wanting to counter, but a small attendant pulled him aside, whispered, and dragged him back.
"Agree." Grandiva smiled, though the voice hid a hint of teeth grinding.
Horn, the password of this carriage, everyone uses it, just scrambling for the reins.
Gallar in the groove, why do they kill the carriage horse at every turn?
As Rovaluk sat down, another priest from Falan stood up: "Since the preliminary identity confirmation is complete, I still have a question all present need to validate."
It was Grandiva’s aide, Montena, who scanned the surroundings: "With the scriptures passed down to today, various errors and interpretations exist.
I propose, to minimize disputes, today’s debate should focus on the ’Gospels’.
Not a word to be deleted, added, or altered; do our Holy Alliance churchmates agree?"
Under Grandiva’s playful and expectant gaze, several main debaters gathered for discussion.
Subsequently, Rang Buluo stood up to represent the Holy Alliance and said: "We agree."
Grandiva’s taut heartstrings relaxed.
Finally, finally fell into the trap!
