NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: This is done in 'fluidic time', and takes place after Lady Bryce's visit to Knootoss (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3151659). Questions may still be asked in that thread.

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Chimaea One, over Italian Airpsace

"We'll be landing in Rome in ten minues."

Lady Bryce looked up from her thoughts and glared at Ambassador Holmes, the dual Ambassador to Italy and the Hole See, who shrugged. "We can have that stopped if you like?"

Lady Bryce nodded curtly, and the Ambassador had a brief whispered conversation with an aide, who hurried towards the front of the plane. He turned back to the Governor. "It's just that the previous Governor liked to know these things exactly."

"Well I don't!" she tapped the documents on her lap. "So let me get it straight. The Secretary of State is like the Prime Minister?"

"Yes."

"And the Vatican City is an independant state in Italy, after Rome was taken back?"

"Yes."

"The Pope is their Governor-equivilent? The Head of State?"

"Yes."

"Have you met the Pope?"

"Not the current Pope, no. I've met with the Secretary of Section for Relations With States, who's their foriegn minister."

There was a small pause while the Governor re-read the document, then shook her head. "Why was it that a Governor hasn't visited in so long?"

The Ambassador sighed. "Chimaea has a history of ignoring religious states, my Lady. Our relations with the Church have never been exactly the shining example of diplomacy in the world."

"Iesus Christi is a religious state. So is Syskeyia."

"Iesus Christi is a threat to our national security, my Lady. And Syskeyia is one of the nicer religious states, and besides they're our allies. The Vatican is a bit more... unique."

Lady Bryce sighed and the Ambassador looked curiously at her. "You don't like the Catholic Church much?"

She shrugged. "I'm not religious much. Look, take me through the protocol again, before we land..."

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The Governor's Motocade travelled slowly through the streets of Rome towards the Vatican City, escorted by the Governor's Guard on motorcycles, and by the Italian police. Security was tight due to the danger of a S.I.N. operative managing to get a good shot at the limousine. The buildings on either side of the streets had been carefully checked by the police beforehand.

The motorcade reached the towering wall that surrounds Vatican City and to one of the gates, where it halted for security to let it through.

OOC: hope I got that right... :)

((OOC: All except the “Hole See” reference. We are miffed. >wink<))

The airport had alerted the Vatican regarding the arrival of Lady Bryce’s aircraft and the departure of her motorcade, so the St. Anne gate was rolled impressively aside as her car approached. One of the Roman Polizei motorcycle officers gave a handsign to the Noble Guard officer at the gate. Inside the gatehouse, the output from several scanners was observed on screens; based on the data, the Noble Guard waved the car and the Chimaean cycle guards on through, past the Nicholas V tower and to a parking area at the edge of the Courtyard of the Majordomo, one of the principal entrances to the Apostolic Palace.

It was a lovely day in Rome; a high-pressure front had wafted through and dispersed some of the worst of the muggy heat, and the fabulous architectural stew that comprised the many ancient and modern buildings of the Vatican glowed in the soft golden light. They had passed St. Peter’s Square on their way to the gate; the vast, colonnaded oval was as usual liberally sprinkled with tourists and a regular traffic of clergy. The dome of the Basilica loomed over all.

There were a number of press waiting (already security-screened) to one side of the entrance, in an area reserved for the purpose with good sightlines. They were only photographers and videographers, no questions would be permitted at this time. It was simply the “photo op” moment of the Visiting Head of State’s Arrival.

The Papal Majordomo, Cardinal Peter Shan Tsao-Li, with a couple of assistants in attendance, waited to greet Lady Bryce, flanked by Noble Guardsmen in their colorful blue-and-gold medieval dress uniforms.

As the Governor’s limousine drew up, members of the Vigilanzi, less colorful but remarkably efficient and unobtrusive, appeared to supervise the car and the personnel who would not be entering the Palace; they would be directed to a pleasant facility behind the Osservatore Romano press building, where they could be refreshed and contacted by radio when the car was needed again. The Vigilanzi also employed diplomatically discreet hand scanning units.

When the Governor was disembarked from her limousine, the Majordomo descended the steps to greet her, and Ambassador Holmes. “Welcome, Governor Bryce, to the Apostolic See. We are most honored to receive you, we much admire your country for its influence for peace and human rights in the world. I am Peter Shan Tsao-Li, his Holiness’ Majordomo. Welcome, Ambassador Holmes, your return is a pleasure.”

There was a reason Tsao-Li had held the post of Papal Majordomo for two Popes, spanning several years. His Chinese features could be as expressive or as inscrutable as he wanted them to be, and he had a precise appreciation for nuance and detail that infused each word and phrase with just the right inflection. His gentle but authoritative manner allowed him to be both formally respectful and warmly welcoming at the same time, a useful attribute in one who had to perform so many public functions involving so many important people.

He also had a nice sense of just the right pace for movement when cameras were focused in his direction, and was moderately photogenic. The reporters got excellent footage of the gesture of welcome, the formal handshake, the gesture ushering her Ladyship up the stairs, etc., before the party vanished behind the doors of the Palace, followed by the three security-cleared photographers who would record the Governor’s meeting with the Pope.

Inside, a wide reception hall beautifully furnished with some of the Vatican’s many fine artistic treasures was only slightly marred by the security station with its scanning unit. Here the Vigilanzi managed the screening, although the Noble Guard were in evidence at the doors.

“A disagreeable necessity, of course, your Excellency,” Tsao-Li murmured, “but of a certainly you understand the requirement.”

It was a remarkably thorough job, and quite painless for the scan-ee, who simply had to place their hand briefly on a screen, then walk about six feet through a tunnel-like enclosure that scanned for metal, certain high-tensile polymers, explosives, and an array of biotoxins, as well as matching the appearance and handprint with the Vatican’s security database to both confirm identity and ensure that the individual was not “tagged” in the database with any of a number of security codes.

Once the scan was completed, they were escorted down wide, carpeted hall hung with exquisite paintings, to double doors opening onto one of the Pope’s formal reception chambers—in this case, the “public private Audience/Reception” room. Heads of state, Nobel Laureates, Olympic athletes, the first astronauts to walk on the Moon, humanitarian leaders, and other world notables had been photographed in this wide, high-ceilinged room with its two massive bookcases flanking the double doors opposite the entry. Noble Guardsmen stood next to both sets of doors; two others were along each of the other walls.

The Pope sat in a simple, high-backed chair in the large open space, flanked by his private secretary, a representative from the Secretariat of State, and a couple of other staff members. He smiled warmly as the Governor entered, and nodded as the Majordomo formally presented Lady Bryce and her party. Shutters snapped, video recorders hummed.

(OOC: She would have been briefed that the ring-kissing thing is not expected of non-Catholics; a simple bow is all protocol requires.)

During the brief journey in the Motorcade, the Ambassador had pointed out sights of interest and given brief histories. Lady Bryce had been impressed by the old stonework and the grand architecture, though her mind was solely with the actual audience with the Pope. The soldier in her had wondered in a paranoid flash just how many snipers could be targetting the motorcade as it swept past, but she pushed the thought from her mind.

The Motorcade drew to a halt in the parking space of the Courtyard of the Majordomo. Lady Bryce glanced nervously at The Ambassador, who gave her a reassuring smile, and waited as one of the Governor's Guard opened her door and saluted. Lady Bryce stepped out of the limousine and returned the salute, turning to face the Majordomo as he walked towards her. The man looked officious and radiated dignity and respectability. Lady Bryce shook his hand and smiled at both him and the cameras and replied to his greeting. "Thank you very much, Mr. Tsao-Li, I'm honoured by your warm welcome and I look forward to meeting with his Holiness and seeing more of the Vatican."

She was soon ushered into the building, where she politely let herself be guided through the security arrangements. Feeling rather like she was being taken to meet the headmaster, she walked with the Majordomo down a ornately decorated hall and then through open double doors to the familiar audience room of the Pope, which she had seen in photos and in the Media.

She returned the Pope's smile and, remembering protocol, bowed. The bow had been much discussed and argued over between the head of the Chimaean Catholic Church, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister and all three had spent an instructive two hours with the Governor, most of it practicing. The bow could not be too much or go on for too long otherwise the nationalists would be up in arms; however it could not be avoided otherwise there would be insult to the Vatican and the Pope.

Lady Bryce bowed and waited for the surge of camera noise to die down, hoping her father would have approved.

As Lady Bryce’s protocol people had made it clear, the Governor was visiting entirely in her official capacity as head of state in Chimaea, and she herself did not profess Catholicism. So the Pontiff did not offer the Apostolic Blessing. Instead, he nodded, then extended his hand for a handshake, before gesturing to a chair nearby.

Introductions completed, Cardinal Tsao-Li faded into the background, and made a gesture to one of the staff, who kindly but firmly ushered the photographers from the room. They had had their ‘official’ shots, now the Governor and the Pontiff (and their respective staffs, satellites, etc.,) could continue their discussion in ‘privacy.’

http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/16929/LeoXIV.jpg

Leo smiled as the photographers left. “We are most honored, Lady Bryce, that you have chosen to visit the Holy See. We have a deep regard for the Church in Chimaea, and we hope this visit augurs well for the relationship between the Church and the Bryce government.”

Lady Bryce smiled back cautiously, studying the Pope curiously. She had expected a very formal and serious individual, but the elderly man seated opposite her seemed friendly and kind. His eyes were sharp and intelligent and Lady Bryce was suddenly and unexpectedly reminded that the Pope was supposed to be God's voice on Earth, or at least the closest possible. She wondered if that dosctrine still applied and cursed herself for not asking the Ambassador.

"Thank you, your Holiness. I've looked forward to meeting you and visiting the Vatican... it's been a long time indeed since Chimaea made an official state visit here." she shrugged and continued frankly, "Actually I guess we both know that even the relationship between the Holy See and the Chimaean Catholic Church have been strained. It's been a personal policy of mine to try and mend a lot of the things that we have forgotten about or avoided in this world of standoffs and war."

Leo, in turn, studied the Governor. She valued clarity, a rare and precious (but sometimes very dangerous) characteristic in a political leader. He had never been a man who relied on his intuition in the past—he trusted the evidence of his senses and solid concrete, linear thinking. But since his elevation he’d often found himself relying on impressions that went beyond the concrete. In this case, he believed that Lady Bryce was a person who had many unanswered questions in her life. Perhaps that was the reason she appreciated the straightforward approach.

He nodded gently. “Not an active strain, perhaps, Lady Bryce. But certainly a distance, that has been allowed to continue far too long. We in Rome bear a share of the responsibility, certainly.”

“It was a necessary, though regrettable, development. The twentieth century was a time of profound change for the Church, and especially in the latter half of the century the pace of that change accelerated greatly. There was need of a time of reflection, of internalizing the experiences of change—in short, of assimilation. My predecessor was greatly concerned with this work, to his everlasting credit. Still, it left us with something of a muffled voice in the larger world, that enabled such distances to grow.”

He smiled. “However, I have made it a priority of my service to the Church, to restore those relationships to regular and fruitful communication, both from a Church perspective, and from the view of our political relations. The Vatican can speak to great effect, if we are careful and restrained in doing so.”

Lady Bryce nodded thoughtfully, then smiled a shade bitterly. "If only the lobbyists back home would accept such a peaceful view of diplomacy. Sadly though, frequently I'm called upon to severely condemn something, or send troops somewhere, or launch some sort of attack on something. The worst thing is... in the end they may well be right." she blinked as if remembering where she was, and continued in a lighter tone.

"Your Holiness is absolutely right when you speak of the lightning-fast advancements the world has gone through. No longer is it safe to ignore an issue or a nation or events on the other side of the world as too far away or not concerning us. We really do live in a global community, and I try to reflect that in my policies. To solve a single problem we need everyone to have some input, and in a global community everyone could very well mean everyone. I try to make sure all the channels are open and clear so we can consult with everyone considered. And such is diplomacy...

"My hope is that through the start of regular contact with the Vatican, the Chimaean Catholic Church and the Vatican will move to a greater understanding." she gave him a cautious look, knowing that the relationship between the two Churches had been at times strenuous, with the Chimaean Church preferring an organisation in keeping with the culture of tolerance and 'modernism' that pervaded Chimaean society.

Leo had grinned spontaneously when Lady Bryce said:
Sadly though, frequently I'm called upon to severely condemn something, or send troops somewhere, or launch some sort of attack on something.

But his face sobered as she continued.

“Indeed, my Lady, your view of the purpose and value of diplomacy closely parallels our own. We, too, have great demands made upon us to intervene, and a critical balance of—well, let us call it ‘spiritual power’—to maintain. The Churches of hundreds of Ecclesiastical Provinces—hundreds of great nations, as they are usually seen—vary widely in their historical and cultural experiences, and their views of the Church.”

“We see the wisdom in letting a regular dialogue become a way of solving problems. And, it is our most sincere hope, also a way of increasing unity, and adding strength to all concerned. We are pleased that you value ‘regular contact’ with the Apostolic See, and will engage to facilitate this in cooperation with your government.”

He smiled, then. “We understand you are scheduled to tour some of the beautiful historical and architectural treasures that we take such great honor and pleasure in maintaining for the world. There is a particular fresco that perhaps only someone who has prepared to present a proposal to a national legislative body—or a Synod of Bishops—can truly appreciate. If you get a chance when you are in St. Peter’s, slip into the Historical Treasury and look for it among the Flemish Renaissance works—it is a beautiful rendering from the Old Testament of Daniel waiting to be thrown in the lion’s den.” His eyes twinkled.

Lady Bryce's lips quirked up. "The lion's den..." she murmured, then chuckled. "Yes. That's exactly it, specially to someone who's new to it all. I'll certainly see the fresco! I guess some things never change."

OOC: Sorry for the shortness of this reply, I'm wondering where we go from here, I'm not allowed to discuss policy with Leo right?

Leo smiled at the Governor. “Excellent! Please do enjoy the tour. We hope that there will be another occasion for your Ladyship to visit us. Do not hesitate, should there be any matter upon which our assistance could be useful, to request a private Audience. We will always be available.” He glanced at one of his secretaries, who was already making a note on an electronic pad.

“It is not always remembered that the Pontiff is also a priest—but so it is. We are here to listen, and advise if needed, as well as smile for the cameras.” His gaze was direct, and friendly. He gave a nod. “Thank you again, your Ladyship.”

The Majordomo murmured something to one of the others, who spoke briefly into a handset. He stepped forward then, and bowed. “Your Ladyship, if you are ready for the tour? I have requested that your security detail meet us at the main door.”

Lady Bryce paused for a split second at the Pope's words, then nodded. "Thank you, your holiness, I will keep that in mind. I'm sure we shall meet again, it's been most refreshing to talk to someone who isn't trying to second-guess my every word."

She smiled, rose and followed the Majordomo out of the room, her expression thoughtful.

Cardinal Tsao-Li, with a couple of attendant priests and Vigilanzi, escorted the Governor back to the main door, where her security detail was already waiting. Also waiting were a half dozen or so journalists with various types of cameras.

The Majordomo was experienced at making these tours into favorable media opportunities. He asked the Governor whether she had any particular interests, then led her (at a photogenic pace,) first on the traditional “highlights” tour—the Sistine Chapel, the main altar of the Basilica, the catacombs (lovely photos there of the Governor peering doubtfully at moldering tombs and barely-legible inscriptions,) the current exhibit of frescos, then strolled through some of the gardens and fountain squares to reach the Museums, where he showed her the relics of early missionary visits to Chimaea, and examples of fine Chimaean religious art that had been donated to, or commissioned by, the Vatican in the past centuries.

The stopped briefly outside the Vatican Post Office, where a refreshment stand offered gelato and cappuccino. The Governor was persuaded to try a little limone gelato. One of the Post Office officials presented her with a sheet of proof stamps from the first (Installation) run of Leo XIV, in a glass case.

At every major juncture on the tour, they paused so that the photographers could record the expected shots. Tsao-Li was a good host, explaining some of the “insiders” knowledge about the various features of the Vatican.

Finally, they strolled back to where the Governor’s limousine awaited her. Amid cordial expressions of decorous mutual esteem, the limousine was waved farewell and the Governor returned to her hotel.

Tomorrow the real dicker would commence.

(OOC: Also please note—due to an unfortunate confluence of travel plans and a bug-infested network being taken offline for some days, it is unlikely that the muns of the Holy Vatican See will be doing much posting for the next week. We apologize for the inconvenience; please feel free to move events along and we will try to catch up.)