03-17-2020, 12:48 AM
(This post was last modified: 03-17-2020, 01:12 AM by Ascendancy.)
The Holy Father was eating a midday meal when he was suddenly interrupted by the hurried footsteps of Archbishop Jean-Guy Cheney. The Archbishop served as foreign minister in the Secretariat of State, and one of a limited few with frequent access to the Pope. The former Frenchman was portly around the waist, balding, and had a mole on his upper lip that should probably be removed by a dermatologist.
“Holy Father,” he entered exasperated. Philip vaguely attributed his breathlessness to aging addiction to cigarettes. It wasn’t until the Archbishop placed a screen alongside his plate that his attention was fully diverted.
The headline played out in bold red letters:
EARTHQUAKE DEVASTATES SOUTHERN PACIFIC: DEATH TOLL UNKNOWN
He looked up, eyes wide. Anger at the intrusion dissipated instantly. The Archbishop was sweating, a hand gripping the cross on his chest. He said nothing.
Within moments, Philip abandoned the Archbishop to the solitude of the table. His apartments were completely devoid of electronics, which meant he relocated to the Secretariat of State’s offices, which occupied the same level of the Vatican palace.
The screens were already attuned to the news. He barely entered the room when it seemed the spirit parted the way forward through avid watchers. The Cardinal Secretary of State alone approached his shadow. Philip absorbed it all without speaking. The Cardinal filled the silence, meanwhile.
“They say it is the worst mega-quake since 2020,” he said reverently.
Patricus’ lips formed a thin line.
“Holy Father,” he entered exasperated. Philip vaguely attributed his breathlessness to aging addiction to cigarettes. It wasn’t until the Archbishop placed a screen alongside his plate that his attention was fully diverted.
The headline played out in bold red letters:
EARTHQUAKE DEVASTATES SOUTHERN PACIFIC: DEATH TOLL UNKNOWN
He looked up, eyes wide. Anger at the intrusion dissipated instantly. The Archbishop was sweating, a hand gripping the cross on his chest. He said nothing.
Within moments, Philip abandoned the Archbishop to the solitude of the table. His apartments were completely devoid of electronics, which meant he relocated to the Secretariat of State’s offices, which occupied the same level of the Vatican palace.
The screens were already attuned to the news. He barely entered the room when it seemed the spirit parted the way forward through avid watchers. The Cardinal Secretary of State alone approached his shadow. Philip absorbed it all without speaking. The Cardinal filled the silence, meanwhile.
“They say it is the worst mega-quake since 2020,” he said reverently.
Patricus’ lips formed a thin line.
![[Image: hiclipart.com_-e1597513863757.png]](http://thefirstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/hiclipart.com_-e1597513863757.png)