The Way by Brian John Skillen

Author:Brian John Skillen [Skillen, Brian John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Camino de Santiago, Knights Templar, Princess, Secret Code
Publisher: 1881 Productions
Published: 2020-10-13T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

The Papal Court

Cardinal Leonardo Patrasso28 awaited the Pope’s return to Poitiers. The Papal Court had been assembled there since Clement’s coronation. Late in the evening, the ornately decorated papal coach appeared, pulled by two beautiful white horses. Leonardo hastened from the doors of the palace to meet the coach, wanting to be the first to see the Pope on his arrival. There was much unattended business that needed to be dealt with, and no time to waste.

When the coach came to a stop, Leonardo opened the golden door. The red velvet interior was even more lavish than the exterior. Does God’s servant really need all of this? How many mouths of the poor could we feed with this one coach?

Leonardo shook off these thoughts as the Pope emerged. Clement extended his hand and Leonardo kissed the papal ring. “Your Holiness,” he said, bowing. When his lips met the top of the Pope’s hand, he noticed the texture of cloth. He opened his eyes to see that the Pope’s entire hand was bandaged. Leonardo let go immediately. “Are you well, Your Holiness?”

Clement looked at him with road-wearied eyes. “Nothing that ever passes is excluded from God’s plan.” Leonardo helped Clement out of the coach, and they walked to the palace.

“Your Holiness, there is much work to do and no time to spare. I met you out here to inform you that the Italian delegation of cardinals arrived yesterday, and they have grown impatient for your arrival.”

“Very well. Have their congregations been paying their tithe to the church?” asked Clement.

“Of course, Your Holiness.”

“Good, then I don’t think we will have much to discuss.”

“Much to discuss? Much to discuss?! Why, indeed, we do have much to discuss,” a booming voice came from down the long corridor in front of them. “Let’s begin, shall we? First of all, why has the Papal Court been moved to Poitiers and not kept in the Holy City of Rome? It isn’t even in Italy!”

“Ahh, Cardinal Giovanni Boccamazza.29 I am sure the Pope will answer all of your questions tomorrow. He has only just arrived and is weary from the long travel,” Leonardo said.

Pope Clement raised his hand to silence Leonardo. “Cardinal Boccamazza, whom has God deemed infallible on this earth?”

Reluctantly, Cardinal Boccamazza responded, “The Pope, Your Holiness.”

Clement continued. “Do you not think that there is a reason why we are here and not in Rome at this moment? Perhaps it is for the very same reason you are here to see me now. Or am I mistaken?”

Cardinal Boccamazza stood in silence.

“Rome has become a dangerous place. That is why I am proposing to move the whole Papal Court to Avignon, which is not a part of France, but a fiefdom held by the King of Sicily. The Papacy will always remain on Italian soil,” Clement said reassuringly. “If that is all, I will retire for the evening.” Cardinal Boccamazza bowed and kissed the Pope’s hand.

Leonardo and Clement turned and left Boccamazza still bowing. They went through a large door into the Pope’s private chambers.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.