For two days the people had assembled at the Holy site of St. Peter's Square and eagerly awaited the signal of white smoke from the Sistine Chapel. A few times, black smoke billowed from the smokestack, signaling what many perceive as a fiercely rigorous vote by the College of Cardinals as to the legitimate and continued successor to St. Peter and the Vicar of Christ, leader of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church. Finally, at a little over 9pm tonight, white smoke was seen issuing from the Sistine Chapel as the crowds cheered, chanting Papa! Papa! Habemus Papam!. Pope! Pope! We have a new Pope!


A cardinal of the Church spoke into a mircophone from the Sistine Chapel, informing the crowd of the results of the poll:

Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam! Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum Cardeau, Sanctæ Romanæ Ecclesiæ Cardinalem Fransisco Cardeau, Qui sibi nomen imposuit Benedictus Decimum Septimum.

I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope! The most eminent and most reverend Lord, Lord Cardeau, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, Who takes to himself the name of Benedict XVII.


Shortly thereafter in an expedient manner not typical of Vatican ceremony after Papal Succession, the new Pope spoke from the balcony of the Chapel and addressed the multitude of faithful that had assembled from across the world.






Sancti Apostoli Petrus et Paulus, de quorum potestate et auctoritate confidimus, ipsi intercedant pro nobis ad Dominum.

Amen.

Precibus et meritis beatæ Mariae semper Virginis, beati Michaelis Archangeli, beati Ioannis Baptistæ et sanctorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli et omnium Sanctorum misereatur vestri omnipotens Deus et dimissis omnibus peccatis vestris, perducat vos Iesus Christus ad vitam æternam.

Amen.

Indulgentiam, absolutionem et remissionem omnium peccatorum vestrorum, spatium verae et fructuosae penitentiæ, cor semper penitens et emendationem vitae, gratiam et consolationem sancti Spiritus et finalem perseverantiam in bonis operibus, tribuat vobis omnipotens et misericors Dominus.

Amen.

Et benedictio Dei omnipotentis: Patris et Filii et Spiritus sancti descendat super vos et maneat semper.

Amen.

A message from Pope Alexius I:

The person who calls himself the Vicar of Rome is guilty of foul play from the Conclave that was held. He called the conclave before the time was up in order to ensure that he would win the Papacy. Now think logically! The only reason why I'm not in Rome is because I was forced out of there! What spiritual crime am I guilty of that would cost me the Chair of Peter? He shouldn't get the Papacy because I never lost it in the first place. Therefore, I will not recognize this man as the legitimate Pope; I will however, show him mercy by not excommunicating him for theft and impersonation.

"Alexius I does not seem to understand that there is no time limit to a Conclave. It is only when the amount of votes needed to proceed is given. If there is a deadlock after a certain amount of time, the amount of 'candidates' is whittled down until there is only two left. If you do not even understand how the Papal Conclave works, you probably should not even be participating in one."

OOC: Technically, he's right. We set an OOC timeline. A real conclave has no limit, only requiring a 2/3 majority or a deadlock breaker.

OOC: The 2/3 majority isn't even needed when there are only two candidates - you could have only one more vote and still be the winner.

OOC: Ah, thank you. I stand corrected. I was not aware that in a two person ballot, a 2/3 was not required. Hail, oh wise one!

After consulting with various officials and the Cardinal Elector, the Vatican issued a statement on the rejection of the Conclave results:

Message from Pope Alexius I:

Arrgh! I meant that there's reason to believe he bribed Cardinals, not that he called the Conclave! My apologies, I've been so frustrated that I am starting to confuse one thing with another. Give an old man a break!

OOC: Unfortunately for you, you can't edit the main part of your post out after someone calls you out on it. Well, you can, but it just shows how much of a liar you are.

OOC: Hahah that is unfortunate. I'll just edit the two previous posts then.

OOC: Which story are you going with KC? Time limit which does not apply, to Bribes, and back to Time limit? I'm having a hard time believing you had a grand plan all along.

OOC: lol sorry, forgot OOC didn't affect IC. I started off with saying that you called the conclave early, but since the timeline was IC I had to change it to Bribes. But Sargy already called me off for saying something about the timeline so I had to change the first post back and edit the second post so that it would ICly and legitimately change to Bribes.

The Grand Council of Fascism welcomes with enthusiasm the election of Benedict XVII as the new official head of the Roman Catholic Church. Considering the Anti-pope's refusal to accept it, the Grand Council therefore declares Alexius I as " Enemy of the Fascist State and the Italian People ". All the security agencies of Italica are authorized to arrest him immediatly if he crosses our borders.

The small number of Catholics residing in libya donot recognize the new pope and insist Alexius is the true pontiff. The Caliph welcomes Alexius if he needs a place to reside. After all an enemy of fascists is a friend a of ours.

"The entire nation of Austria (well those that're catholics and not atheist, shinto, buddhist or any other minor religion or non-religion)is overjoyed that the Catholic Church finally has a strong leader that could end this schism that existed since Pope Bubba."

The Pope urges compassion in the face of this adversity. The Vatican cannot and will not support anything other than what Christ himself would do, in his infinite mercy. We urge everyone to act with humility, and compassion.

"So you do not endorse the true Pope who was elected by proper procedure and is, indeed, the rightful Pope, but instead follow another simply because of a single political view. Intriguing. At the behest of the Pope, we will not continue any more political dialogue between us on this subject - a religious debate is never a sensible one."

"The Hansa sends its highest congratulations to the new Supreme Pontiff, Benedict XVII, may your reign be long and prosperous. In addition, we hope that in the future you may grace us with your presence here in the Hansa."
-Hannah Asgiersson

----------------------

Benedict would always receive a letter, encased in a faded envelope with golden ink on the front that shone like the sun. Inside was a folded piece of parchment, elegant handwriting on the back and front.

"Although the government of the Rheinmark is a secular one and the population is by vast majority of the Norse religion, we support Pope Benedict XVII."

"The Catholics of Promised Land stand by the results as an impartial election. Benedict XVII is now the legitimate Pope."

"We endorse what the people endorse, the fact Alexius is an Enemy of the Fascists is just an added bonus."

"The people have endorsed Benedict."

"By the people, we meant the people of Libya. Poor Wording on our part."

"This, of course, makes more sense."

Alexius I:

- "I thank those that have placed their vote in me. However, the Cardinals have spoken in favor of Pope Benedict XVII, a decision i have chosen not to appeal. Pope Benedict XVII has offered me the position of Archbishop in my home country, Zargathia, which i have accepted. I thank Libya for its offer, yet must kindly request they too accept the ruling of the Conclave. Let the Church remain whole."