When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 1027 Horn's Legal Status

"Horn of the password, isn't this guy digging his own genitals with a hoe?"

Grandiva slammed the Pravda newspaper onto the solid wood table, then paced back and forth in the stuffy room with his hands on his hips.

"Your Majesty..."

As soon as his aide spoke, Grandiva raised his hands in a fiery gesture.

"How despicable! He can't get the indulgence himself, so he's trying to uproot the roots of everyone else behind him. Does he really think he's some kind of saint?"

“Your Majesty,” the aide finally interjected, “it is best that you do not respond to this matter, or at least not personally.”

"why?"

"Firstly, it would be beneath your dignity; secondly, Horn, as the opposing pope, has personally stated that he does not want indulgences. If you were to contradict him, it would seem rather..."

"Greedy? Are you saying I'm greedy? Holy Father, have mercy, I am the least greedy person I have ever met!"

“We all know you are not, but the believers are foolish and do not know.”

Grandiva finally quieted down. He closed the blinds and sat back in his silk-covered velvet armchair: "Montena, give me your analysis."

Seeing that Grandiva had calmed down, the aide Montene quickly ordered his servant to fetch some mint water.

"Your Majesty, this conference may appear to be a debate, but it is in reality a battlefield."

You must understand that the final outcome is not determined by who wins the debate or who has the better argument, but by who can better persuade the bishops and clergy.

"Do you think those bishops would elect a pope who came from a peasant background?"

The door opened, and Montena took the mint water from the servant, handed it to Grandiva, and then spoke.

"Your Majesty, many bishops and abbots come from humble backgrounds."

To put it bluntly, they don't like nobles; Horn's peasant background is actually an advantage.

This is not an exaggeration by Montenegro; the monks and priests generally have considerable grievances against the nobility.

To be precise, weren't indulgences created because some lords wrested the right to collect taxes from the church, forcing the Southern Church to resort to shady means?
A century-long war between the two nations led to the rise of urban citizens and a new aristocracy in the south, while in the north the church's power declined significantly.

After all, no matter how severe the blessing, there must be a knight to receive it, right?
Moreover, with the rise of the urban class, secular intellectuals also entered the political arena, and a large part of the clergy's civil service functions were given to the citizens.

Without your church, the kingdom would have perished!
But now, it's hard to say.

The Southern Church had long been defeated by the nobles and the French royal family, and now served the nobles wholeheartedly.

This has always been considered a disgrace by the clergy of the Northern Church, and the previous Pope Johnny VIII was willing to create a conflict of legitimacy in order to keep the pope in the North.

The decline of papal power and the revival of royal power seem to be a trend.

However, in the South, royal power prevailed over religious power, while in the North, religious power was barely equal to royal power.

At this time, on the desolate border of the empire, a theocratic regime suddenly emerged, with zero royal power.

If it were just a fleeting phenomenon, it could be dismissed as a joke.

But now it has not only survived, but is thriving, and even shows a tendency to replace Leia as the third largest power in the empire.

If Horn was a proponent of theocratic religion, the dioceses of Leia should have proclaimed him pope the day after Priyano's death.

However, Horn is not only not a Theocratic, nor is he a radical member of the Reformed Church, but rather a member of the Sacred Way, who is even more radical than Juano.

The clergy's dream of a theocratic union was realized by Horn in a way that was the exact opposite of what the clergy dreamed of.

“The clergy in the North both admired and revered his theocracy, yet they also abhorred his critique of Theocratic Christianity and his political stance.”

The northern clergy already didn't have much affection for you, but judging from the rumors, Horn is even worse.

If we lose this round, things will be very different later on.

Upon hearing this, Grandiva's face turned pale and then red, and he picked up the crystal glass of mint water and drank it all in one gulp.

"Then I'll put up with it, okay?"

Grandiva is unlikely to give up indulgences, which are the flagship product of the Southern Church.

All kinds of taxes and rights had been seized by the French nobles and the royal family, and many cities had been bought out by the citizens. If the sale of indulgences were not allowed, Grandiva would not even be able to pay the salaries of his staff.

"Bear with it for now. Once the Grand Council has set things right, you will be the Pope of the Empire. At that time, will anyone dare to say anything?"

Grandiva knew Montena was right; the cool minty taste burned in his throat. He put down his glass. "This is Horn's first thesis, isn't it? What about the others?"

Montena, who was prepared, took out a manuscript from his pocket.

"In addition to abolishing indulgences, there is also the limited abolition of doubtful religious orders, and the doctrines on the interpretation of liberty that you have been preparing."

"Is that all?" Grandiva asked, looking down as he flipped through the manuscript.

"Besides that, there are some minor, scattered things, such as simplifying sacraments and moralizing faith, etc..."

Grandiva was taken aback: "He wants to resolve so many things in one meeting. He certainly likes to accomplish everything at once."

After reading the entire manuscript, Grandiva calmed down, closed his eyes, and thought for a long time before opening them again.

“You write an article refuting the abolition of indulgences. We will resolutely oppose all the doctrines proposed by Horn, and we will resolutely support all the things that Horn criticizes!”

Soon, under Grandiva's instructions, groups of southern clergy began posting rebuttal notices near Springspring Castle.

As for the clergy who support the Holy Alliance and the monks and priests of the Holy Way, they can often print out rebuttal notices the next day and then continue to post them.

It must be said that we must thank Horn for rewriting and improving the Jeanne d'Archburg type printing technology, which made it possible to issue five hundred notices a day.

The walls and notice boards of Spring Spring Fort were updated daily, and the start of the Grand Council was drawing ever closer.

In early September, Charles VIII arrived in the capital city of Red Leaf Hill, while at the same time, Pope Grandiva of the South arrived at Springspring Castle.

Two days later, the Holy Alliance Pope's ship, escorted by two thousand guards, arrived at Springspring Castle.

I don’t know when it started, but the towers and walls of Spring Spring Fort were covered with iris flags and the red and black flags of the Holy Alliance.

Spring Spring Fortress, nestled amidst mountains, rivers, and forests, was not actually the venue for the Grand Council.

The actual venue was the Bologna Cathedral outside the castle.

After three months of renovations, the semi-abandoned Gothic cathedral was finally able to accommodate a large number of attendees.

On the morning of September 10, attendees gathered outside the church, craning their necks to peer inside.

The interior of Bologna Cathedral is paved with marble, the dome is painted with a creation painting, and the altar is adorned with a gilded scutum and the relics of Saint Langley.

The stained glass windows on both sides let in dappled colored light, and even outside, you could smell the mixed scent of incense and candle wax in the air.

The flags of France and the Holy League were hung in the church's foyer, and the officiant called out names loudly at the entrance.

"The esteemed Pope of Onnivia has arrived!"

"The esteemed Pope of the Holy See has arrived!"

"The great King Charles VIII of France has arrived!"

"The Archbishop of Flowerhill City has arrived!"

"Chief Justice Cuevalin and Hades have arrived!"

Amidst a variety of carriages and cavalry, groups of various factions entered the meeting venue one after another.

In the clear morning light, all the participants stood up, and the choir sang "Glory to the Father" in El.

The two popes simultaneously held Gospels and read prayers, asking the Holy Spirit to "guide the church away from heresy."

After the prayer was read, the heavy oak doors closed with a nod from the presiding minister, Sheri, signaling the official start of the council.

"The wise men have gathered here today to devote themselves to the future of the Messianic Church, but in order to ensure the legitimacy of the council, could we first examine the dioceses represented?"

According to the previously agreed procedure, members attending the ecumenical council need to have a signed letter from a majority of the clergy or abbots of the local diocese.

Everyone naturally underwent the inspection, but the master of ceremonies turned a corner and approached Horn: "May I ask, Lord Horn, in what capacity are you attending this Grand Duke's Council?"

(End of this chapter)