Novel Full Chapter 611 - The Pope’s Visit
In St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, the current Pope, Francis I, heard of the arrival of Sister Mirda and promptly put down his work to meet her.
“Sister Mirda, is there something that requires your personal presence here?” he inquired.
Inside the meeting room, Sister Mirda was clad in a simple nun’s habit, devoid of makeup or any expensive jewelry. Despite her actual age being over eighty, the resurrection and blessing of ‘Christ’ had restored her youth, giving her the appearance of a woman in her twenties.
Anyone who saw her would never believe her to be of that age. Sister Mirda’s benevolence was something that could not be found in a woman of her twenties, or any age, for that matter.
While she had been beautiful when she was young, her transformation after receiving the divine blessing of Christ made her truly exceptional. Her skin was flawless, almost as if it had no pores, resembling a precious gem. Coupled with her pure and holy demeanor and beauty, she was the embodiment of the image of a saint that people envisioned.
Naturally, Pope Francis I held no impure thoughts regarding Sister Mirda. She had already taken vows of celibacy, dedicating herself entirely to the service of God.
But Pope Francis I was somewhat puzzled. Most of the time, Sister Mirda was engaged in preaching or performing miracles at the Lateran Church. During her rest periods, she usually visited the church’s orphanages to care for the children. She rarely made personal visits to the Vatican’s inner chambers.
“Could it be that you’ve come due to the ongoing conflict with the heretical gods happening in the Antarctic continent?” Pope Francis I inquired with a furrowed brow.
While the whole world was focused on the events in the Antarctic continent, the Pope, as the leader of the Catholic Church, remained calm. He wasn’t worried about the fate of humanity at all. His faith had grown even more robust.
The Pope believed that the Almighty Christ would not stand idly by as heretical gods threatened His lambs. He was confident that He would save His followers. Moreover, even if they perished, what did it matter? He was certain that he would ascend to Heaven to bask in the glory of the Lord.
This was the perspective of true believers and fanatics in a world where gods existed. For them, life was a preparation for the afterlife, where they would eventually reach Heaven. That’s why, in life, they strictly adhered to religious doctrine.
If it weren’t for the Christian doctrine forbidding suicide, some fanatics might have even considered ending their own lives to be with their Lord.
In fact, the doctrine of the gods in the world of San Soliel prohibited suicide as well, because living followers could provide more faith.
“I was concerned about the lambs of the Lord facing persecution and prayed to the Lord at the Lateran Church. He informed me that the events in the Antarctic continent are internal matters of heretical gods. The all-powerful Lord won’t interfere.”
Sister Mirda spoke calmly. In fact, the leaders of countries like China, Japan, and Italy had already calmed down. This was because these countries had various degrees of contact with supernatural forces. They had received divine revelations from their allied entities and so knew that wide-scale destruction would not occur.
Knowing that the safety of humanity was not at risk, the leaders of these countries could relax. However, figures like the President of the United States, who had little contact with supernaturals, were still anxious and worried. Some leaders who were aware of the inside details couldn’t help but take pleasure in watching the President make a fuss.
“Since the Lord has stated that this is a matter concerning heretical gods, we shall not concern ourselves with it,” said Pope Francis I.
With the appearance of numerous godly beings on Earth, the doctrine of the One True God had lost some of its traction. Pope Francis I, in particular, was well-versed in the history of Christianity. He knew how Christianity had spread throughout the Western world – through wars.
The Crusades weren’t just about conflicts with Islam. During the Crusades, there were many people who practiced polytheism. The Norse gods in the North were part of these religions. Christianity had expanded its influence through wars and forced people to believe in Christianity.
On Earth, the Norse Pantheon should be at odds with Christianity.
“Since it’s not about the matter in the Antarctic, I wonder what is it?”
Pope Francis I asked.
“It’s in the East… The Lord told me that there’s a highly sinister presence in the East, associated with the ‘Outer Gods,’ and it’s a very powerful evil god. But perhaps my faith isn’t devout enough, I wasn’t able to fully comprehend more of the Lord’s revelations.”
Sister Mirda said with reverence, crossing herself.
“No, Sister, your faith is devout enough. I, as the Pope, cannot even receive revelations from God. It’s because the words of God are beyond the comprehension of mere mortals like us, which may be why you find it difficult to hear.”
The Pope, with his soothing words, both flattered the sister and glorified God.
Sister Mirda simply smiled. At her age, she was well aware that the Pope, to some extent, was a politician. He needed to use the kind of rhetoric employed by politicians, so she didn’t see his words as insincere.
“Nevertheless, in the East… Is it China or Japan?”
The first thought of the Pope was of these two countries because they were the only ones in the Eastern lands with connections to supernatural beings.
China had previously performed a ritual to worship Taiyi on Mount Tai, while Japan had called upon Amaterasu. Both countries had been on par with Sister Mirda and maintained amicable relations with them. In the current global political landscape, having such relationships was the envy of other nations.
The United States, for example, was continually seeking cooperation with supernaturals. However, due to the lack of its own cultural roots, it couldn’t find its own ancestral spirits and even had conflicts with Native American gods.
England found itself in a similarly complicated situation. Historically, England and Ireland were the cradle of Celtic culture. However, at present, this land was ruled by the Anglo-Saxons, who held grudges against the Celts. When the Tuatha De Danan appeared earlier, he nearly annihilated Buckingham Palace.
Moreover, these countries all adhered to Christianity, which, to some extent, was influenced by the Vatican. This caused significant frustration for the leaders of these powerful nations.
Italy, on the other hand, was in a more favorable situation. The Vatican essentially constituted Italy’s celestial empire. The Pope had a polite relationship with Italy’s Prime Minister. Furthermore, the vast majority of Italians were devout Catholics, making the Pope’s position akin to a fish in water. The Italian Prime Minister was similarly spirited, as this environment favored the Vatican’s influence.
“The Lord’s revelation only mentions ‘the East,’ but I don’t know the exact location. That’s why I’ve decided to visit these two countries,” Sister Mirda explained her intentions.
“In the name of the Catholic Church?” the Pope inquired.
“Yes, in the name of the Catholic Church,” Sister Mirda affirmed.
“In that case, I shall accompany you on this journey. It’s also an opportunity for the Pope to visit China, which has never happened before,” Pope Francis I declared. This was a way to pay respects and establish a dialogue with the supernatural beings in these Eastern regions. While the chances of furthering Catholicism in China were slim, it was still vital to explore a dialogue with supernatural beings in these lands.
Sister Mirda smiled, her aura both saintly and compassionate. This was her purpose. If possible, she also wanted to meet the supernaturals in China and Japan. The sinister presence of an evil god in the East was a cause for concern. After all, she was a kind-hearted nun, personally bestowed by the Lord as an angel!