Chelsea Quinn Yarbro by Magnificat

Author:Magnificat
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780967915906
Publisher: Hidden Knowledge
Published: 1999-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

“But, Your Holiness,” protested Bishop Flanders, who had been given the task of coordinating the Coronation Mass, “it is essential that you wear the tiara at all times.” He had got up from the couch in the small sitting room of the quarters she had been assigned. There were nuns billeted on both sides of her, and a Swiss Guard in the hall, to prevent any sort of scandal. There was also an unobtrusive security camera in the northwest corner of the room.

“Do not call me Your Holiness,” said Zhuang, motioning to Willie Foot to assist her. “If you insist on such a name, it must wait until the ceremony is concluded.”

“If you wish,” Bishop Flanders muttered, glancing at Willie Foot as the journalist translated.

She studied Bishop Flanders’ face, aware of his disapprobation. “I do not like the tiara. It is heavy and ostentatious. If you must put it on my head, then take it off as soon as possible.”

Bishop Flanders had been a bad-tempered little boy and at his confirmation had sworn to conquer his occasional rages, as proof of his worthiness and piety. While he was young the task was often too much for him. For most of his twenty-nine years since ordination he had been able to rise above his fits of anger. Now he was sorely tested. His blocky face reddened. “If you are to be Pope, you must wear the tiara.”

“Why?” she asked in English, then continued in Chinese, pausing occasionally to allow Willie to catch up with her. “I have been reading your texts and I see no reference to any tiara ever worn by Jesus. I do not recall anything he said that indicated he wanted one, or required his followers to wear one, or to aspire to wear one. The only crown I recall was the one made of thorns, which was intended as a disgrace, or so I am told. Therefore it is not because of what Jesus taught that the tiara is worn, but because of the rules established by the Church in a display of importance and power. For the sake of tradition you may place it on my head if you must, but then you will remove it, or I will take it off myself.”

“He’s not going to like that last bit,” Willie warned Zhuang in Chinese before he translated it for Bishop Flanders.

“That is unfortunate,” said Zhuang with no sign of relenting.

“The tiara is necessary,” Bishop Flanders persisted. He tried to console himself with the reflection that Cardinal Mendosa was back in Houston for the week and not here to plague him.

Zhuang sighed and stared out the window; she could just make out part of Saint Peter’s dome. “It is not respectful for me to wear such…adornment. You in the Church may have good reason for your finery, although I notice that many of the Cardinals prefer secular garments most of the time. You have set yourselves apart from your people through such display, which distinguishes you more than it honors your Jesus.

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