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The Young Pope

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Synopsis

Chapter 1 - Habemus Papam

"BREAKING NEWS ON WNN today.

Pope Francis II, in the meeting with journalists today, said that the Church's teachings on contraception, gay marriage, and abortion can be changed. 'The Church need to adapt itself to the current age,' said the pontiff.

He also said that the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption could be dropped for the sake of dialogue and ecumenism.

'Many Christians cannot accept that the Blessed Virgin was immaculately conceived and was assumed to Heaven both body and soul. But we can change this, the dogmas can be dropped. Catholicism must change itself so that all creeds can accept it and it includes all creeds. This is what Catholicism is about,' said the pontiff. The Pope's statements are expected to receive the rage of many faithful Catholics.

Meanwhile, Donala Trupna is re-elected as the President of the country X for the 5th term, she said she would..."

Turning off the TV, Giovanni feels his blood is boiling.

"Argh, that man again, he went from heresy A to heresy Z, you apostate, you heretic. St. Pope Pius X said that dogmas can NOT be changed. One day, you will go to Hell."

While saying this, he keeps punching the pillow he is holding.

"If I were the Pope, I wouldn't let those heretics and apostates and corrupted men causing troubles like that. I would burn all of them at stake."

Lying down on his bed, Giovanni begin to weep "O LORD, why dost Thou let this happen to Thy Church. If I were the Universal Pastor of the Church, I would fix everything. No, if Thou let me return to the past, I could prevent everything, even the Great Schism, so that many souls could be saved, since no one can be saved outside the One, Holy, Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church which Thou instituted."

"EXTRA ECCLESIAM NULLA SALUS", (Latin: No salvation outside the Church) shouted Giovanni.

Then Giovanni begin to fantasize in his head what he would do if he became the Pope until he falls asleep.

.

.

.

Dawn, 21 October, 1032

In the Eternal City, Rome, the capital city of the Catholic Church since the 1st century, everyone could hear the Church bells, announcing to all people that it is dawn, it's time to raise up, pray in the morning and go to work, while the clerics will have to pray the Hours of Prime and Lauds of the Divine Office.

Hearing the bells, Giovanni begin to open his eyes.

"Why is my alarm sounds like the Church bell today and why does it ring so early?"

Looking at outside the window, Giovanni is surprised, he rubs his eyes.

"The dawn is so beautiful, normally I can't see it because of the tall buildings...huh, where are the tall buildings? And why are there so many churches' bell towers?"

Moving closer to the window, Giovanni is baffled, "Why is the city so similar to the background in my games?"

From where he is standing, Giovanni could see many churches and the old Basilicas.

"What!!! That is St. Peter Basilica, that's St. John Lateran, and that's St. Mary Major, but they are all the old Basilicas, not the new ones!!!"

"Oh, maybe this is a God-grant dream. It's because I think too much about the Church last night. But why is my body felt so small compared to before? Usually, people would be in their normal selves when they are in a dream, right, except when they dream about their childhood. But this is not a dream about childhood."

Then Giovanni heard the doors behind him opened, he turns around and sees a middle age man in noble robe and two servant boys following behind him, they are carrying things that nobles usually use before they step out of their rooms.

"Ah, I thought you would still be sleeping, Theo. Can't wait to be the Pope and be the most powerful man in this world, right?" said the middle age man.

"What is this man talking about, being the Pope?" thought Giovanni.

The middle age man continues "No need to thank me, Theophylactus, my son, your father here has purchased the Papacy for you. You will be the youngest Pope ever in history, at 12." Then the man laughs.

As he has learnt and studied very carefully about all Popes in history, Giovanni remembers all details about their lives written in history books and records.

"Theophylactus...Pope at 12...purchasing the Papacy...Benedict IX!!!" many thought explode and run rampage in Giovanni's head.

"I am dreaming about being Benedict IX. So weird, I'm dreaming about being one of the worst Popes in history."

Then from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, Giovanni sees a man in red robe walking out.

The man in red announces in a large voice "Habemus Papam" (Latin: We have a Pope).

The crowd under cheers loudly.

Then the man in red announces the name of the new Pope, which is of Pope Benedict IX that Giovanni knows.

Then all the church bells in the Eternal City, at the same time, are rung. The sound of the bells, together with the cheer sound from the people, is booming and very realistic to Giovanni's ears.

"They are cheering for you, my son!" cheerfully said the middle age man.

Giovanni feels weirder and weirder each second. He secretly pinch his flesh under his robe.

"Ouch! Oh no, this is not a dream!!!" thought Giovanni.