KingChris

OOC: I just argued against those points with Cent. Brb, going to try to make an OOC deal with Cent so that this doesn't turn into a massive argument.

[quote name='Centurius' timestamp='1328412035' post='2914707'] As the UCAV attacks against infantry positions continued the army would march on to secure every inch of the Vatican city, on their way everyone found would be detained pending an investigation on their involvement with the fascist policies of the church. At the same time the Razors pushed through the Palace to find themselves too late to prevent the escape. That said, nothing was lost yet and a very important building had been mostly secured. While the pope could escape, the Castel was just as any other place of cultural value already guarded, added to that that the secret passage was basically public knowledge the pope would find he really couldn't get far. Before the pope even left the exit at the side of the Castel 10 soldiers would surround him and demand the surrender of him and the guards or deadly force would be used. [/quote] OOC: Cent, I'm calling your metagame. No one guards something like the Castel Sant'Angelo with soldiers; they use security guards. And ten soldiers don't conveniently break apart from the rest of their division and happen to walk upon the Pope escaping.

Pope Celestine VI, wearing absolutely no Papal vestments whatsoever, waited by the entrance to the secret passage Nicholas III had erected and that John Paul III had modified. He was on the fourth decade of his rosary when the first shots were fired. The Swiss Guardmen accompanying the old man notified him immediately that it was time to go. Taking his rosary, the Pope went with the guards through the secret entrance to the Passetto di Borgo, which extended far enough away from the Vatican. While the rest of the Swiss Guard fought the Athenians in order to buy time, the eight selected Swiss escorted the Pope across the Passetto, which was now walled and featured a roof from John Paul III to protect from rain, and to the Castel Sant'Angelo, deep in Rome. A ninth guard made sure the secret passage was then shut and sealed. With absolutely no one except for the Pope and the Swiss Guard possessing knowledge of where the secret entrance was, the Athenians would have a very fun time looking for it. The Pope was very fortunate that Athens only surrounded the Vatican and not the area around it. A Vatican citizen that had been outside in Rome when the Vatican was shut off waited by the Castel Sant'Angelo in his car. As soon as the Pope and the guards showed up, the Pope and one of the men entered the automobile. The citizen then drove on, away from the Vatican and out of Rome. There were still many unarmed trapped in the Vatican, and the Pope prayed for their safety and for their souls.

The Dean of the College of Cardinals reminds every Cardinal of the oath they reaffirmed immediately following conclave: [quote]I [name and surname], Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, promise and swear to be faithful henceforth and forever, while I live, to Christ and his Gospel, being constantly obedient to the Holy Roman Apostolic Church, to Blessed Peter in the person of the Supreme Pontiff Celestine VI, and of his canonically elected Successors; to maintain communion with the Catholic Church always, in word and deed; not to reveal to any one what is confided to me in secret, nor to divulge what may bring harm or dishonor to Holy Church; to carry out with great diligence and faithfulness those tasks to which I am called by my service to the Church, in accord with the norms of the law. So help me Almighty God.[/quote] He also reminded all that at this point, by a papal bull from Pope Gregory VII, that any Cardinal who defied this oath by opposing Celestine VI, and thus the Catholic Church, in this scenario would unfortunately be excommunicated from the Catholic Church and would lose their standing as Cardinal, thus revoking the right to participate in the conclave. A recantation of claims and a reaffirmation of obedience would expunge their excommunication but would not restore their position as Cardinal. This was a proclamation made centuries ago and is sadly irreversible at the current time. With this, the Dean urges that they set an example to the world and do as Christ commanded us to do: keep all promises to the heart.

OOC: Submarines use optical fibers. 'Nuff said.

OOC: Good luck blocking optical fibers dude. If you figure out a way to do that, tell that to the U.S. government. IC: The Swiss Guard remained resolute in their positions as the Athenian division prepared to invade.

[quote name='Centurius' timestamp='1328317075' post='2914149'] "In line with requests from Catholic clergy the Pope hereby has 72 hours to formally renounce his position, make place for a new pope and surrender himself to Athenian police for his crimes. If this deadline is not met further options will be considered, including the use of military force." [/quote] "Pope Celestine VI is the true pope, as verified by the authenticated documents from the last conclave. There is absolutely no reason to renounce the Papacy. In addition, the Athenian Federation has no right to arrest the Pope, as any crime he is charged of having committed were not committed in the Federation's territory. Anyone entering the Vatican City is subject to be searched for weapons, and the forced entry by the Athenian Federation will be viewed as an invasion, and thus, a declaration of war." Several Swiss Guardmen, armed with halbeards, were placed on the borders and ordered to stop anyone attempting to enter by force. The rest of the Swiss Guard, save for eight men, were positioned behind them, armed with SIG Sauer P220 handguns, SIG SG 550 assault rifles, and MP5 sub-machine guns. These men had vowed to protect the Pope at any and all cost, and at this time, they were prepared. PRIVATE Calls were made to various Vatican citizens still in Rome regarding an escape plan for the Pope.

"The Vatican regrets that the Horde has such a negative view on the Pope. Celestine VI has never in his life condemned the idea of religious freedom; au contraire, he has often praised such a right. The message to the French was in no way any type of oppression of this ideal, and seeing that the Pope wants people everywhere to come to the Catholic faith, like all Popes in the history of the Church have, the Horde should not exclude our messages to France. Furthermore, there exists no evidence that the Vatican supported Dalian's regime. The Church supports only the principles that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, brought forth to humanity."

Upon hearing of the delegation from Kuklos, the Vatican would accept an audience with them.

OOC: Then I believe Cent needs to RP out those effects on the shopowners and residents that live near the area. It is highly improbable, with your facts, that he could contain all the jamming within a 0.17 square mile region.

OOC: I doubt you'd be able to block every radio frequency, considering that radio communications employ a wide variety of wavelengths. I could explain it in more detail, but not here. IC: CLASSIFIED The Vatican recently began to employ optical fibers, immune to electromagnetic interference, to communicate. Through these means, Pope Celestine VI transferred his authority to Dean Scola, who was outside of the Vatican when it was blocked out from the rest of the world, until Athens stepped down. He was also ordered to set up Vatican consulates in nations friendly to the See.

With physical communication out of reach at this point, the Holy See opted for more expensive means: the satellite phone. By owning several satellite phones from various foreign companies, the Pope was able to converse with his Cardinals around the world, albeit at a higher price. For the Athenian Federation to block that out would require them to take out the satellites transmitting the signal, but that would create an international incident.

However, not very many Cardinals, definitely not more than the two thirds majority of the College of Cardinals required to elect a new Pope, would even bother to show up to the Council of Basel. The Athenian Federation may have seen Celestine VI as someone corrupt, but history had brought corrupt popes before, and if this one was as Athens expressed, the papal conclave had already been validated. People were also confused on how the Athenian Federation indicated freedom of religion but tried to change the doctrine of the Catholic Church. In addition, Italian faithful began to assume the role of the foreign clergy.

Twice a day, Vatican officials locked outside have begun to communicate with the Pope via megaphone, sending news from around the world and receiving instructions in order to maintain contact with the world. All discussion was held in the language that no country, save for the Vatican City, uses.

The Pope wrote a reply back to Cardinal Velankovic and sent it back via pigeon, stating that as no homeless person could enter the Vatican soup kitchen, everyone inside had plenty to eat and drink. He also requested Velankovic to set up an office for the Pope, should he ever arrive, and provided that the Croatian government had no objections. Finally, he inquired the Cardinal to investigate as to why the Horde and the Federation were so randomly antagonistic against the Vatican, seeing that the Holy See now had little way to communicate with the governments at this point. Mass would be celebrated as normal, except that it would occur outside instead of in the basilica. Speakers were set up, and the celebrants would speak through microphones outside. Communion would be administered to pilgrims outside the City by Roman priests using the Blessed Sacrament consecrated in other churches.

[quote]The Vatican confesses that it is completely oblivious and unaware as to why the Horde and the Athenian Federation would view the See of Peter in such a negative fashion. Celestine VI has done nothing except to encourage Roman Catholicism to grow freely among the people of the world through the freedom of religion, as allowed by many governments of this earth since his inauguration. We have done absolutely nothing to suppress other faiths. Furthermore, Vatican operations have not yet even touched any area close to the Horde, and thus we once again fail to see the issues the Horde and the Athenian Federation have against us. As a political entity, both governments have the right to claim the possessions of the Catholic Church, but it can not order the faithful to reject the Vatican authority. You may hand over the churches in the Horde to the Patriarch of Jerusalem, but we remind you that all members of the church are of the Pope, who is their servant, and that even the Patriarch has already pledged his loyalty to His Holiness. Furthermore, we remind you that under the decree of Pope John Paul III, every baptized Catholic holds citizenship in the Vatican, and oppression of their rights will not be taken lightly.[/quote] After a division from the Third Army was set and completely surrounded the Vatican, a single unarmed Swiss Guard approached them and asked if he could pass, simply stating that he wanted to go home to his family for the night, as usual.

PRIVATE [quote]To: The Executive Department of the Serene Republic of Vaule From: The Office of the Camerlengo, Vatican City Mister Prime Minister B. Svatek of the Serene Republic of Vaule, His Holiness, Pope Celestine VI, the Sovereign of the Vatican State, wishes to enter a discussion with you regarding the "One True Faith Act," as it affects the Catholic population in Value. As the shepherd of those faithful, the Pope would like to travel to Vaule to discourage the passage of that act, as well as to promote relations between Vaule and the Vatican. If a visit by the Pope is not possible, perhaps a phone call would suffice? I look forward to your reply. Cardinal Mauro Piacenza Camerlengo of the College of Cardinals Secretary of State of the Vatican City[/quote]

A public message to the Croatian impoverished: [quote]Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Church in Croatia, The economic woes that have struck your nation have not gone unnoticed. Correspondence with the bishops and cardinals in Croatia have given me a sensible idea of what you are suffering through. Therefore, let me remind you that although you are currently among the poorest of nations in wealth, you are one of the richest in faith, and the Lord seeks those who are pious first. With this in mind, observe the holy example of St. Francis of Assisi and his Order of Friars Minor, who live in poverty and humility in order to bring honor to Christ, for if you learn from them, God will bless you with the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. And above all, pray always to the Father, for the Son has declared, "Ask anything in My name, and you will receive, so that your joy will be complete." CELESTINUS PP. VI[/quote] PRIVATE With the entire nation in Croatia in poverty, Celestine VI ordered a percentage of funds received from mass offertories to the nation. It was estimated that the Croatian government would receive 1,770,000 HRK (pre-inflation/1,650,000 USD) from the Vatican Bank, started by Pope Pius IX for charitable operations.

[quote name='Triyun' timestamp='1327381346' post='2906019'] Athens yes, [i]pagans[/i], as everyone knows (for as little issue I have with the Western Athenian Federation) the vast majority of the Athenian military is from the [i]Eastern[/i] Athenian Federation lead by Empress Ariadne a [i]incarnation[/i] of the Pagan Goddess Athena. It was Athenian and Chinese Forces which prevented Haas from his wars of conquest in Europe, and you're diluding yourself if you for one moment think a Visarist wouldn't bull doze the Vatican and build a monument to Scolar Visari the second they could. What of the DDR, with the largest army Europe saw in an individual nation? They were Stalinists, your religion an abomination, stopped by the China, Athens, and the Slavs. All pagans. You condemn nations who don't kiss your ring, but you neglect the fact that the only reason you actually exist, is because these nations kept Rome in free hands. Further, any Amazonian who wishes to be Catholic is free to be, but any Amazonian who wishes to be something else is also free to be. The problem is your position, which exists because of the blood of those you condemned being spilled, is inherently discriminatory and fundamentalist in a way many of your predecessors were not. Catholicism has a place in people's private lives, you have no business dictating to any amazonian or anyone else what religion the state should follow. [/quote] Unfortunately, you're missing the point. The fact that the Church received the Vatican back has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the majority of Athenians are pagans. Furthermore, with all due respect, who are you to tell us, who have been at this for more than two millenia, how to run our faith? You are gifted and wise in the matters of politics, while we are inspired by the works of religion. Let us not allow the two to interfere with each other to a point where unnecessary enmity rises between anyone.

[quote name='Triyun' timestamp='1327376672' post='2905961'] As the leader of both a majority non-christian nation and having personally intervened to see that the Holy See would not be blasted out of existence by Nordic Socialists, Ultra-Germanics, and Stalinists, I must say I find this obvious disrespect for religious pluralism by the new Vatican leadership distressing, especially as it is with the exception of Austro-Hungary, the military might of Athens and China, pagan powers as you'd call them, which you owe your continued existence too. Yuan Jia [/quote] The Vatican exists as a sovereign entity not from pagan powers, but because of the generosity of Athenian mortals. The Catholic Church will have nothing to do with owing anything to pagans. Furthermore, Christianity as a religion possesses the right to preach and spread the faith among the people of the world. Amazonia is not excepted to this standard.

To the Leader of the new nation, Pope Celestine VI recognizes the political state of Amazonia. However, to the new citizens, he expresses great sadness that the region that was formerly France has become a land with Christianity in decline, if not already devoid. The Vatican strongly urges God's children in the area to revert back to the former ways and love the Lord with pure hearts. No pagan rituals are powerful enough to substitute for the grace and everlasting life that the Father gives by sacrificing His only Son, our savior, Jesus Christ.

Cardinal Alfonsino Lucchesi is hereby reinstated as the Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In conjunction with Heraclitus I, Pope Celestine VI offered the following statement: [quote]In today's world, we are witnessing the decline of Christianity. As the paganism in the north of Europe continues to expand, we must hold hands with our Christian brothers and sisters from different denominations. No matter what our differences, we share something fundamental that separates us from those of other faiths: our firm belief in the most Holy Trinity.[/quote] The Pope also mentioned that in addition to an audience in the Vatican, the itinerary included a visit to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the site where St. Paul is buried.

The Pope strongly condemns the radical ideals of this terrorist organization. Private: An extremely simple check was performed throughout the Vatican City to ensure that no citizen, who were all CATHOLIC, were even Muslim, much less supporting Muslim supremacy.

[quote name='Sigurd Odinnson' timestamp='1326745378' post='2901028'] Pontifex Maximus Sigurd Odinnson, in his capacity as Eccardopolitan Pope Heraclitus I overseeing the [i]Ecclesia Mystica[/i] of the Order of the Brethren of the Holy Name, wishes to enter interfaith talks with the Holy Roman Church and the head of the Roman Rite of Christian Worship. [/quote] The Eccardopolitan Pope Heraclitus I is invited to an audience with Pope Celestine VI. OOC: Just to confirm, Odinnson is the head of a Christian denomination?