Chapter 451 - Papal Woes II (2/2)
If you insist on going down this path of another reckless Crusade, I swear to you, it will be the end of the Roman Catholic Church as we know it! I implore you to rethink your actions and settle your grudge with the King of Austria once and for all!
Let me remind you that if it weren't for the corruption of the Bishop of Innsbruck and the local clergy. Berengar von Kufstein may not have ever challenged our authority! See reason Julius before it is too late!”
Though the other Cardinals remained silent, the reality was that many of them held similar views of the ongoing conflict with Austria. If the Austrian Army could annihilate half a million men in battle within the Iberian Peninsula with a force of 50,000 men, then what could possibly be achieved by invading their home turf?
However, Julius was consumed beyond the point of reason; at this point, he, like his predecessor, had been driven to the brink of madness after being bested by an upstart from a once insignificant region. The Pride of the Papacy was at stake, and the constant humiliation they had suffered in their attempts to remove Berengar from power had driven both Popes mad.
Even if the Cardinals initially selected Julius to replace Simion so that he would take a moderate stance against Berengar von Kufstein and his realm, it did not take long for him to be pushed past the point of no return. Thus instead of accepting his losses and making amends with the young Monarch, he instead doubled down once more.
”I refuse to allow this upstart from Austria to further humiliate the Papacy and the Catholic Church as a whole. If I were to bow my head and concede defeat to this Devil, he would be acquiring exactly what he desires. Under no circumstances will I allow such a fantasy to become a reality!
Instead, I will bring forth the greatest army this world has ever seen and ravage his lands! I swear even if it is the death of me that I will see Berengar von Kufstein's head encased in bronze, and mounted outside my walls!
This will serve as a permanent reminder as to what happens when you dare to challenge the authority of the Church! If any of you refuse to play your part, then you can consider yourselves excommunicated!”
The Pope had expected this mad rant to convince his Cardinals to follow his plan until the end. Instead, the Cardinal who had raised his objection responded by pulling off his hat and placing it on the table. After doing so, he stared deep into the Pope's eyes before declaring his intent.
”I will not follow you into damnation. If this is the direction of the Catholic Church, then I want no part of it. You can consider me excommunicated!”
After saying this, he began to walk away from the Papal Chamber with his head held high. Julius called out to him in an utterly enraged state as he did so.
”Fine! Go! You are excommunicated and, at this moment, branded a Heretic! If you ever step foot in another Catholic Kingdom I will have your head on a pike!”
When the other Cardinals heard the Pope's response to the Cardinal's resignation, many of them followed suit. They too stood up from their seats and placed their hats upon the table before walking off.
In the end, all of the Cardinals from German-speaking regions had ended up resigning from their position and walking off. In their eyes, the Pope had gone entirely insane with a thirst for vengeance, and they refused to allow their people to bleed over the unrealistic possibility of avenging their losses to the Kingdom of Austria and its Monarch.
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