Five long months had passed since the previous Pope's death. The last standing ShadowBane had assumed his position and became the next Pope, whom many speculated would be the last.
"Do we still have no answers?"
"The agents are still searching, but they haven't found anything out of the ordinary. What are we supposed to do if we've found absolutely nothing?"
"Damn incompetents. The greatest emblem of power in the Association of Light died, and we have no answers. What are we supposed to tell the world governments?"
"Tell them nothing." A voice came from outside the meeting room.
Everyone stood up as the Pope of Light entered, followed by his most loyal agents.
"Greetings, Pope of Light."
Anton nodded in response, then gestured for everyone to sit and resumed the meeting. "For a long time, we have strived to please the world governments by eliminating dark entities, and that changes today. We cannot ensure the safety of an entire country, and they must understand that things are about to change."
"The risk analysts are evaluating the probabilities of complications when revealing delicate information that has been kept hidden all this time."
Anton gestured and said, "You may begin explaining the problems we would face if we revealed this information to the public."
"If the governments of the countries announce the existence of entities like ghosts, werewolves, and vampires, it could trigger various catastrophes worldwide."
Rafael stepped forward and said, "The first issue we would face is panic and social chaos, divided into public reactions, resulting in distrust and disorder. The revelation could cause massive panic, with people terrified and seeking protection from these entities.
"If we have kept it hidden until now, it's because we don't want a reaction like this. But if the experts discover that we are interested in revealing the truth now, it would generate massive distrust because people would think we no longer have control. Confidence in governments and institutions would erode, leading to civil unrest and riots."
"Economic collapse would also be a concern. Stock markets could crash due to uncertainty and fear. Supply chains would be affected, and many businesses would close due to fear or a lack of customers."
Rafael looked at Anton and pointed out, "We would also face serious problems with people's mental health. As we know, no one is prepared to learn about the existence of dark entities, and this could cause common people stress and anxiety."
Governments might impose drastic measures, such as curfews and militarization, to try to control the situation.
Furthermore, groups of people might form to hunt these entities, resulting in violence and possible unjust lynchings due to misinformation. Those suspected of being or associating with these entities could be persecuted and discriminated against.
"The most problematic would be the religious and cultural impact," murmured Anton, understanding the biggest problems that could arise.
Religions and beliefs could be shaken, leading to crises of faith among believers. New sects and movements would emerge to exploit the situation, increasing confusion and chaos.
To avoid this, they would need to place extra resources in specific areas, like mental health.
This is true; combating the problems that would arise after announcing the existence of entities like ghosts, werewolves, and vampires would be a complex and multifaceted task.
For everything not to be destructive, there must be transparent and effective communication. This could be carried out in public education so that everyone is well-informed.
Inform the population clearly and scientifically about the nature of these entities, their behaviors, and how to protect themselves.
They would have to open support centers and psychological support services to manage panic and anxiety. Additionally, they should invest in mental health services and train professionals to handle the increase in stress and anxiety cases.
Implement emergency economic policies to stabilize markets and support affected businesses.
Addressing these problems would require a comprehensive and coordinated approach, combining efforts from governments, the scientific community, security forces, mental health professionals, and society in general to ensure the most orderly and safe transition possible.
"The ideal would be to release information gradually so that people have enough time to process and understand it slowly." Anton sensed that a war was approaching, and his duty was to prepare humanity to better endure the catastrophes to come.