Midnight, Monday October 23, 1032 AD
While many monks pray the Hour of Matins, a group of Cardinals and Bishops meet each other in a dark room with a few candles lit on.
"What do we do now?" a Bishop says "It seems that the new Pope, despite being young, is changed by God's grace . . ."
"It's just youth impulse." another cut his brother's words. [1]
"Impulse!!! You call a son who excommunicated his own father for the Church, right in front of many people, a youth impulse!" another Bishop opens his mouth, refuting his brother
"Alright, focus on the main issue before us, beloved brethren. What are we going to do now? We have received many benefits from the Count . . ." a Cardinal says.
"In short, we have sinned gravely against God and His Church." said another.
"In my opinion, we should stick with the Count to the very end . . ."
"Stick with him . . . when you are excommunicated, you lose all privileges. Now the Count has to face: first, the devout but angry mob, second, his enemies in the nobility, followed by the anger of the Emperor, third, his own son, the Holy Father and all those clerics that stand with him . . . Well, that's all I can think of now. He has no chance, unless the Holy Father pardons him."
"And it's not easy like a joke. An excommunicated must do penance severely to be received back in the Church."
"I think we should just kneel down before the Pope . . . and ask for forgiveness . . . like that prodigal son asks for the forgiveness from his father in the Gospel of Saint Luke."
"I don't know. He does not seem to be the kind of Pope who forgives easily."
"I think we just need to do penance."
"But . . ."
"Alright, brethren, pray first, God will inspire us what to do through prayer."
Despite how scheming they are, these people are still Bishops and Cardinals, they know praying is important, so they kneel down and pray.
***
The same time, in another dark room in another hall
Here, the devout clerics gather.
"It seems that God's grace has changed the boy into a good Pope, just like what happened with Pope Vigilius." [2]
"I don't know, it maybe fake."
"I don't think such a young boy can fake his virtue to this extent."
"I think we need more time to determine . . ."
"More time! What the Holy Father is doing is clearly good for the Church, we must support him, that is our duty and responsibility."
"I agree, we must support the Pope on this one."
"Then what's next?"
"Oh brethren, we must pray first, don't be too worried, this what the Lord teaches in the Gospel of Saint Matthew. Providence will take care of it, we will know our next course of actions when the time come. Now pray!"
And they kneel down, but before they can make the sign of the Cross, one of them asks:
"Who was Pope Vigilius? Could you tell me his story? I was curious about him the whole time and no one told his story."
". . ."
In somewhere,
The impious clerics gather
"What are we going to do now? Argh, it seems like this Pope is the saintly type. And that's bad news for us."
"Calm down. He is just a child. No big deal."
"No big deal!!! His father is excommunicated in front of the whole congregation."
"I believe that was fake. They are trying to deceive us."
"But the Count's face at that time was completely shocked."
"Meh, those scheming man can fake it."
"I think we need more time. Just observe, brethren, do not say anything. Then we will act according to the situation."
"Hmmm, alright, I just fear we can't do it in time."
"Ugh, can we call those boys and girls in now? I can't hold my desire anymore!"
"Alright . . ."
Those three meetings are only the biggest ones among the clerics. Throughout the Eternal City that very night, many meetings are held by people of different interest.
Not just the clerics, noble also have meetings too
Somewhere in the Eternal City
"Hahaha, serve that ******** of a Count right."
"Maybe they fake it."
"Hah, fake or not. We just have to use those stupid farmers to become mob to cause trouble for Alberic. We just have to observe and act accordingly. No need to directly wage war with him."
"Right, those zealous farmers will make any excommunicated noble find it hard to live."
"Hmm, I wonder what the Emperor will do?"
"Which one? West or Byzantine?"
"Both."
"You should have "s" at the end of "Emperor"
"Isn't their political affiliation tell it all?" [3]
"Maybe we will have a surprise!"
***
In the mansion of the House of Tusculum in Rome
"What are we going to do now? That excommunication gives our enemies a chance to rise up against us!"
"Count, please give us a direction!"
"I have many sons after all."
"Wait, what?!!!"
"We, the house of Tusculum, has influenced the Papacy for more than one century after all. It will be easy to get another one elected. I believe another son of mine can fulfill the role."
"You . . ."
"I agree. This is for this House."
"Yeah!"
The men are so focus on discussing that they do not notice a boy eavesdropping. The boy then runs to his mother, Emelina the Countess.
"What did your father and uncles talk about, Gregory?"
"I don't understand what they said, mother. Father said they can easily get one elected . . . and something about another son of father fulfilling the role. Mother, does it concern us and big brother? Father did say 'another son of mine'.
"Alright, Gregory, don't worry. Mother will take care of it all. I will protect all of you, my beloved children. Now go straight to bed and don't say anything to father, ok?"
"Yes, mother. I love you. I pray that God gives you good dream today."
"Thank you, Gregory. I pray God gives you good dream too."
Then she kisses the boy's cheek "And I love you too."
And the boy returns to his room.
("Count, I'm not going to let you to harm any of my children.")
***
While Gregory is running back to his room, he slams into his father, the Count.
"What are you doing outside your room after bed time? Go back to your room NOW?"
"Yes, yes, father." Gregory says then runs back to his room.
("Don't think that I didn't see you ran from the kitchen's direction. I will punish you tomorrow for eating on the sly.")
The Count then storms back to his room, where his wife, the Countess, is waiting.
"Countess, let give our children another baby brother or sister."
"Yes, Count."
***
Meanwhile, on the balcony of the Lateran Palace.
("Don't think that We don't know you are scheming!") smiled the young Pontiff.
***
[1] Like I wrote before, Bishops are brothers in Faith and in episcopal ministry.
[2] Pope Vigilius was Pope from 537-555 AD. After Pope St. Silverius was exiled for opposing the Byzantine Empress, Vigilius, a greedy and ambitious man, was put on the Papal Chair. But after that, he changed and upholded what St. Silverius had taught and defended.
[3] The affiliation was pro-Byzantine and anti-German.