Pelagius III resigned, Conclave begins [MT, Open, IC]

[Il Borgia Vaticano]

His Holiness, Pope Pelagius III has resigned after ending a great civil war. Thus a conclave has begun and the doors of the Sistine Chapel sealed. Thus we ask, Which Papabile Will Become the Most Holy Father of the Catholic Church?

Cardinal Francois de Borgia, Former Legatus to The Empire of Trabadius, Count of Avignon (Age 26)- Moderate:- The former ambassador to the Empire of Trabadius, Francois favors diplomacy and intrigue to war when it comes to foreign policy. Although not keen on warfare, he is a supporter of national expansion the economic benefit of colonization. He's a social liberal on civil issues with economic leanings towards capitalism, but does have some socialistic beliefs. On politcal issues, Francois is a staunch monarchist in the style of his personal hero, Louis XIV of France. He is the son of Jean de Borgia, and a famous patron of actors, architects, and artists.

Cardinal Giovanni de'Colonna-Borgia, Gonfalonier of the Papal Army, Duke of Urbino, Mantua, and The Romagna(Age 43)- Conservative :Giovanni Borgia is the son of Ludovico and one his wife, Vincenza Gonzaga. While not as militaristic as his father was, Giovanni does champion interventionist policy for the defense of the church and their Christian worshipers anywhere around the world. He also supports expansion, but only as a means for conversion and charity towards the absorbed peoples if they really need it.

Gabriel de Borja, Former Duke of Sevilla, Abbot of Santa María la Real, Fitero (Age 75)- Liberal: Unknown until comments made against the Spanish Crown two years ago, Gabriel was once the Duke of Seville. Due to "a reconciliation of thought" and personal issues, the duke renounced his titles and joined with the Cistercian monks at Fitero when he was thirty. Usually the opposite happens, but Gabriel's voice and opinion were amplified during his time at the abbey. His many letters and essays denouncing the entwined monarchies of Rome and Madrid, as well as ones calling for a Christo-Socialist system earned him many sanctions from the abbey's leadership but also their respect. He was made the abbey's leader years ago. He was recently brought to the Papal Court by the Late Leo XIV as a source of wisdom, but returned to Fitero during the reign of Pelagius.

Stefano de' Medici-Borgia, Grand Duke of Tuscany (Age 30)- Conservative : The second Medici papabile in the Borgia papacy, Stefano is a firm believer in capitalism and laissez faire economics, at least when it comes to the private sector of the Borgia dominions. He wishes, however, to enrich the people of Italy, Spain, and The Low Countries thorugh government endeavors and investments in businesses, especially in the development of technology. Described by many as 'God's tech-nerd' and 'most likely to be a supervillain', Stefano has spearheaded the development of new self-driving vehicles from Borja-Gandia and wishes to begin Papal Missions into space, even going as far as to propose a monastery on Mars.


Cardinal José de Borja, Duke of Zaragoza, Court-Chaplain to The Spanish King (Age 55)- Liberal: As court-chaplain to the royal house. Jose was the regent during the great illness of King Ferdinand and the short reign of the Infante Who Vanished. During Le Gran Corrida, the civil war between Alfonso de Borja and Carlos de Borja, Jose fought for the Bastardos who helped Alfonso. A liberal in many ways, Jose supports the civil rights and even politcal rights of the common people of Spain and Italy, advocating for some democratic or even republican rule elements to be added to the government "so that the people may have those rights granted them by God, and that we as his Vicar's should do as he bid".

Feel Free to ask any of the Cardinal's Questions regarding policy, or even their personal lives! Yes like a real conclave you can change your vote. This first vote lasts until January 12th! A runoff will decide the victor in our home region. The pope will be announced on this thread.

[Orrovia]

In terms of policy, the Orrovian Republic finds itself in support of Cardinal Francois de Borgia.
However, his lascivious behavior, disrespect towards the Patriarch of Trabadius, and blatant failure to address the Imperator in a diplomatic and respectful fashion during his tenure as Legate to Trabadius cannot be ignored.
Cardinal Ettaziu Roveu d'Orvenazzu of Orrovia, younger brother of Consul Don Marcu Ottaviani Roveu d'Orvenazzu Oratoriu, would like to ask Francois de Borgia how he intends to reconcile with the Trabadian Church as Pope, as his actions as Legatus have done nothing but drive a wedge between East and West.
The Cardinal would also like to ask how the mere boy can unite the Church behind him and keep the respect and support of the other, elder, members of the Borgia family.

[Il Borgia Vaticano]

"I will be completely honest when I say I was not meant to be a true ambassador. Ever since The Incident, our contacts have been little, and the position of Legatus little more than a paid vacation. If were to take the papacy, I would begin to rectify our relations by appointing an eminently more capable ambassado, one who served as an ambassador for a decade before the last conclave. I would name in my stead as ambassador, Simon de Borja, Pope Emeritus Pelagius III as our legate to Trabadius."~Francois de Borgia

[TURTLESHROOM II]

KINGDOM OF THE UNITED TURTLES, MUSHROOMS, AND MEN OF TURTLESHROOM
PRIVATE SECTOR
CATHOLIC (CHRISTIAN) CHURCH OF TURTLESHROOM
CARDINAL OVER ALL (CATHOLIC) CHRISTIANITY

Peace be with you, blesssings upon you.

The Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Christian Church of the TurtleShroomer Rite does hereby acknowledge the resignation of its Pontiff. Based on the information provided, we support the honorable Duke Stefano Mediciborgia of Tuscany as the heir to the Throne of the Disciple Peter. Knowledge is power, science is the means to know God's Creation and see His Hand in life, and math is His language. The advancement of technology in the name of the Sovereign, One True God and His Son is the greatest way to create moral, virtuous advancements for the betterment of all sentient creatures in NationStates.

We trust His Grace the Duke to serve the Borgian See as a good and wise shepherd, in the name of the Lord.

We also pitch a question to His Grace:

Will His Grace, if elected, finally clarify and issue a fitting Papal Bull (or other Canon Law or Encyclical) defining the status of Papal concubines, polygamous marriage, and the siring of heirs and offspring while sitting in the Disciple Peter's Seat? Will lower clergymen be allowed to marry as the Holy Reverend can?

-and

Does His Grace, if elected, understand the presence of the non-human population in the TS Rite laity? Does His Grace, if elected, support the current tradition of honorary non-human lay-"clergy" who perform non-religious functions to assist the Church? (I myself work with honorary lay-cardinals at Oakwood Cathedral every day.)

-and

What is His Grace's official stance on non-humans and souls? In TurtleShroom, the traditional stance is that non-humans do not have souls and thus cease to exist at death, while humans go to the afterlife and to Heaven or Hell based on their belief and submission to Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

May the Conclave look unto God, and not to man, for guidance in electing the next Borgian Vicar of Christ. God bless the Borgias. God bless the Borgian See. You are always in my prayers.


God bless you,
-H. EMINENCE, THE REV. CARDINAL JASON ICFELLA OF TURTLESHROOM, SPIRITUAL ADVISOR

{This was sent before the Conclave doors were shut.}

As a hiearchy fully in Communion with the Borgian See, I do hereby direct my subordinate who is acting in the name of the TurtleShroomer Rite to cast his ballot in the name of Stefano Mediciborgia.

[Trabadius]

The Imperial delegation has two cardinals which wish to ask a question.

The Imperial Cardinal from Celesis in Palatinus asks Cardinal Giovanni de'Colonna-Borgia,
"What will be your stance in intervening against heretics governments and correcting their heresy to save their peoples' souls?"

The Imperial Cardinal from Dehlinium in Dolmastica asks Cardinal Giovanni de'Colonna-Borgia,
"The Papal armies are not strong enough to defend all of Christendom. How will you seek to achieve those aims?"

[Il Borgia Vaticano]

"No, I will not clarify or legislate the concubinage or marriage of clergy in my pontificate. This issue is not one of spiritual matters, but of temporal politics. The House of Borgia has many branches, like that of the ancient Habsburgs (I for example, am of the absorbed Medici line), and to ensure our own supremacy in both the church and in our dominions of Spain, Southeastern France, The Low Countries and Italy, we're under a special and permanent dispensation to wed and bear heirs. As a matter of fact, Pope Leo XIV expanded this dispensation to all bastards of Borgia fathers as a means to control our 'breeding'. Any bastard child of a Borgia, male or female, is to be legitimized once they prove their genealogy within a single parent's generation. The parent of said child is to support them like any other, so it works to prevent reckless fornication on the part of our cousins. Francois here is of such an arrangement, his father being the son of a prostitute.

As for the second question, any creature that is capable of understanding, worshiping, and following Christ should receive the protection of our church. I've been mocked for it, but I hope to one day establish a monastery/mission on mars to contact extraterrestrial life in the hopes of bringing the whole universe under God's grace.

As for the third, yes I do believe in that. All dogs, unfortunately, do not go heaven."~Stefano de' Medici-Borgia

[Il Borgia Vaticano]

The Imperial delegation has two cardinals which wish to ask a question.

The Imperial Cardinal from Celesis in Palatinus asks Cardinal Giovanni de'Colonna-Borgia,
"What will be your stance in intervening against heretics governments and correcting their heresy to save their peoples' souls?"

The Imperial Cardinal from Dehlinium in Dolmastica asks Cardinal Giovanni de'Colonna-Borgia,
"The Papal armies are not strong enough to defend all of Christendom. How will you seek to achieve those aims?"

"While I am not as eager to slay the damned as my father was, I will intervene against heretics when they pose a threat to orthodox worshipers. As for correction, I'm in favor of temporary occupation and propaganda indoctrination and repression as well as proper education for the young in orthodox religion. The flames of the stake alone will not end heresy.

I'd be delusional to believe that we could protect everyone everywhere all at once. It is an ideal to look to, however. I will indeed, regardless of the results of this election, be improving the technological and logistcal capabilities of our armed forces. As Pope though, I will be finally merging the Italian, Spanish, and Dutch armies into a single force and enacting a limited conscription or all our subjects. I want to work with Cardinal Stefano on the development of new weapons and technologies for world wide coverage by our armed forces. A Sixth-generation airforce and stealth technology finally adapted for naval operations. What the papal armies cannot do, I would hope other Christian states could. I wish to found a coalition/faction/alliance of Christian states for the protection and welfare of Christians around the world."~Cardinal Giovanni de' Colonna-Borgia.

[Trabadius]

An Imperial cardinal from Ventalia in Hibernalia asks of Gabriel de Borja, "How would you bring about untangling the monarchies of Italy and Madrid? Also, how would you go about enforcing morality within your own family?"

[Roma Uc]

The Senate made the case for a diplomatic mission, envoying a Sergio clan senator in vatican most hidden palaces, prefering to discuss it in underground cold and narrow halls.

Their prior question is about the affordable bargain of accepting the cult between socii and, even, citizienship:
they wish to know if the Church will accept to sign and state about the non exeptionalism of their God, and reknown all others Gods of the Pantheon.

Their preference goes to Giovanni Colonna-Borgia, wich is the only candidate they are even suppose to mail; because of its role, the site of its rule in cental provinces of Italy, and its attitude.

They offer a solid agreement in wich they support your Saint conquer ambitions, aiding your army in conquest.
They offer a part of the land and rural towns it might conquer, in wich chatolics can prosper and spread under Papal rule;
a good slice of the land and towns so that a third of the land is managed by Borgia, and Senate will hand an other third oppositely to the half he is used to.

In private and senatorial land and free cities Roman law will stand, even thought catholics will herald some concession, in these provinces.

Senate knows well the alterative to agreement should be repression of this faith, and they are willing to melange and adapt.

They need Borgia, Colonna, Gonzaga to swear in this agreement to adsorb them and live in peace, accepting their culture in Roman nation, to cast their vote.

Guerrilla at borders will follow at all other possible choices.

ps. diplomatics make it clear Roman are going to to cast vote for Giovanni Borgia even without agreement, and then battle with all Papal State with no restraint, declaring he signed the agreement if he will denounce it.

A quite easy false to fabricate. vote casting.

[Il Borgia Vaticano]

An Imperial cardinal from Ventalia in Hibernalia asks of Gabriel de Borja, "How would you bring about untangling the monarchies of Italy and Madrid? Also, how would you go about enforcing morality within your own family?"

"I would abolish the Spanish monarchy entirely, and replace it with administrative communes ruled by the Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch people and administrated by the monastic orders. The government is entirely too centralized, and too aristocratic, and is contrary to the words of Christ. I don't intend on enforcing morality, but encouraging the monastic life and good works for our church and family. We should the guardians and equals of the common man, the worker, the one who labors before god and his fellow man."~Gabriel de Borja

[Trabadius]

The Imperial delegation attempted to contact Pelagius III to ask him for his recommendation and insight as to which candidate would best support the Empire.

[Il Borgia Vaticano]

Pope Emeritus Pelagius III will be unavailable for comment during the conclave. He believes it is wrong to influence elections, which is why he is currently with intelligence making sure the conclave won't be hacked by the Moscow Patriarch.

[Il Borgia Vaticano]

OOC: Since there has been no activity for the last few days, I'm gonna shorten this....

In accordance with Papal Reforms under Pope Leo XIV and a futher reform of Pelagius III, a runoff will be held within the Res Publica Catholicae Borgiae, and those who have embassies with this region, to choose the pope from the leading two candidates. With the final votes being tallied, Jose de Borja has shifted his votes to Stefano de' Medici-Borgia bringing his tally to: Eight Votes. Gabriel de Borja, due to ill health has abstained. His votes will be split between the other two leading candidates who've not earned pledges. Francois de Borgia has the Tally of: Eight Votes. Giovanni de' Colonna-Borgia has the Tally of: Seven votes.

Francois de Borgia and Stefano have been sealed in the Castel Sant'Angelo until the runoff is complete. Feel free to continue to question their policies. One of these two men will be the next pope.

[Trabadius]

OOC: Will we proceed here or in the Res Publica RMB?

IC:

The Patriarch of All Trabadians managed to sneak a letter to Stefano. When he unrolled it he read:

"Your Excellency, the Empire has the votes necessary to influence your election. Provide me with just cause. Your Elder Brother in Christ, the Patriarch of all Trabadians and the East."

The ink, upon being exposed to air, began to react and run as soon as Stefano made it to the closing of the letter.

[Il Borgia Vaticano]

OOC: Either/or

A simple letter in rolled parchment was returned bearing a newly registered logo with a wax seal from the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, written in the hand of Stefano de' Medici-Borgia and in deep red ink was this....

Claves Sancti Petri non tibi sunt.

[Trabadius]

The Patriarch of All Trabadians eagerly grabbed the letter and read it. He threw it into the fire.

"This one will be a threat. He is far more dangerous than the fool Francois. Instruct our electors to keep voting at a stalemate until the last minute. I need to pray."

He left to see the Imperator of the Holy Trabadian Empire.

[Il Borgia Vaticano]

Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum:
HABEMUS PAPAM!
Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum,
Dominum Francis Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Borgia,
Qui sibi nomen imposuit Helius.

[Il Borgia Vaticano]

His Holiness, Pope Helius, Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Son of the Mother of The Church, Shepard of the Flock of Jesus Christ, Sole and Most Sanctified Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Legatus Emeritus Imperium Trabadiam, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the Vatican City State, Servant of the servants of God.