Here is one I have been thinking of for some time as I considered my return to fanfiction. When I originally wrote Pope Mitch I left out something very important: Mitch's perspective as he was being elected Pope by the Sacred College of Cardinals in Conclave. What would Mitch have been thinking about during that final scrutiny as it became evident he was going to be the next Pope? As he was asked if he accepted the results of his election? As he chose a name for his Pontificate? And finally as he made that first all important phone call to Booth and Bones after delivering his Urbi et Orbi blessing for the first time as Pope? Here is that story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have in writing it. Gregg.
Disclaimer: I don't own, or profit from, these characters or franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Mitchell Cardinal Stevens, better known as Cardinal Mitch by his friends, was sitting in silent musing during the counting of the votes of this scrutiny. It was the conclave to elect a successor to the late Pope, His Holiness Pope Francis, or Papa Francesco Primo in Italian. This was Mitch's first conclave, and given his relative youth would likely not be his last, unless a more aged Pontiff were to be elected. He thought about the oath that they had sworn upon the opening of the Conclave:
Nos omnes et singuli in hac electione Summi Pontificis versantes Cardinales electores promittimus, vovemus et iuramus inviolate et ad unguem Nos esse fideliter et diligenter observaturos omnia quae continentur in Constitutione Apostolica Summi Pontificis Ioannis Pauli II, quae a verbis « Universi Dominici Gregis » incipit, data die xxii mensis Februarii anno MCMXCVI. Item promittimus, vovemus et iuramus, quicumque nostrum, Deo sic disponente, Romanus Pontifex erit electus, eum munus Petrinum Pastoris Ecclesiae universae fideliter exsecuturum esse atque spiritualia et temporalia iura libertatemque Sanctae Sedis integre ac strenue asserere atque tueri numquam esse destiturum. Praecipue autem promittimus et iuramus Nos religiosissime et quoad cunctos, sive clericos sive laicos, secretum esse servaturos de iis omnibus, quae ad electionem Romani Pontificis quomodolibet pertinent, et de iis, quae in loco electionis aguntur, scrutinium directe vel indirecte respicientibus; neque idem secretum quoquo modo violaturos sive perdurante novi Pontificis electione, sive etiam post, nisi expressa facultas ab eodem Pontifice tributa sit, itemque nulli consensioni, dissensioni, aliique cuilibet intercessioni, quibus auctoritates saeculares cuiuslibet ordinis et gradus, vel quivis hominum coetus vel personae singulae voluerint sese Pontificis electioni immiscere, auxilium vel favorem praestaturos.
(We, the Cardinal electors present in this election of the Supreme Pontiff promise, pledge and swear, as individuals and as a group, to observe faithfully and scrupulously the prescriptions contained in the Apostolic Constitution of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, Universi Dominici Gregis, published on 22 February 1996. We likewise promise, pledge and swear that whichever of us by divine disposition is elected Roman Pontiff will commit himself faithfully to carrying out the munus Petrinum of Pastor of the Universal Church and will not fail to affirm and defend strenuously the spiritual and temporal rights and the liberty of the Holy See. In a particular way, we promise and swear to observe with the greatest fidelity and with all persons, clerical or lay, secrecy regarding everything that in any way relates to the election of the Roman Pontiff and regarding what occurs in the place of the election, directly or indirectly related to the results of the voting; we promise and swear not to break this secret in any way, either during or after the election of the new Pontiff, unless explicit authorization is granted by the same Pontiff; and never to lend support or favor to any interference, opposition or any other form of intervention, whereby secular authorities of whatever order and degree or any group of people or individuals might wish to intervene in the election of the Roman Pontiff.)
And then the personal oath immediately after:
Et ego Mitchell Cardinalis Stevens, spondeo, voveo ac iuro. And after placing his hand on the Bible open to the Gospels, added: Sic me Deus adiuvet et haec Sancta Dei Evangelia, quae manu mea tango.
(And I, Mitchell Cardinal Stevens, so promise, pledge and swear... So help me God and these Holy Gospels which I now touch with my hand.)
He could well imagine the frustration that his dear friend Dr. Temperance Brennan would express at his inability to break the secrecy of the Conclave and let her and her husband, his best friend and college roommate, FBI Deputy Director Seeley Booth, know what had transpired during this truly historic event. He did not like the rule, personally, as he felt such an event must be preserved for posterity, but as he had no wish to risk excommunication, he would remain silent. But he couldn't dwell too much on his friends. He had something more worrisome to deal with. The prior scrutiny had seen his name being thrust forward as a compromise candidate, and he had amazingly received nearly half votes cast. In between that scrutiny and this one, he'd been approached under the radar and received expressions of support. Apparently the desire for a Pontiff from the United States had been growing for several years as many issues that divided Catholics had become flash points in the US. Perhaps a Supreme Pontiff from there could make the Curia better understand what was happening and the Magisterium of the Church could better meet those flash points. Hearing his name read aloud once more, he bowed his head in silent prayer.
The main question in his mind was whether he was worthy of such an honor. The answer to that would be a resounding NO. He had no illusions as to his abilities. He doubted his capabilities of being a Bishop, let alone a Cardinal. But Pope? Never! Yet something was niggling in the back of his mind, as if letting him know that all would be as it must. With the deepest respect and love for his predecessors John Paul II and Benedict XVI, he knew without a doubt that the Church needed a pastoral Pope, not an intellectual. Pope Francis had been a genuine blessing and a restorative for the Church and it was flourishing as never before, but the pastoral care was still needed to deal with the flash points that all were concerned about. He himself actually combined both qualities, a pastoral concern and care, along with an intellectual bent. His doctorate had been on the Summa Theologica of Saint Thomas Aquinus, which is hardly light fare. He shared a chuckle with God at that moment remembering all the expressions of horror that Booth had given him whenever he let him know that Temperance desired yet another discussion on the Summa with him. He also recalled the utterly epic April Fool's joke when he told Booth, totally deadpan, that Temperance had convinced him and the Cardinal that God did not exist! Could this be why he was being selected, apparently, as God's chosen to become the Vicar of Christ? To humanize the Church and the Curial forces in order to continue, and further, the work that such luminaries as John XXIII and Francis had begun? Perhaps his meeting Booth all those years ago, and then later on Temperance, had been by Divine design? Imagine Booth's expression if he were to ever hear of that thought! And Temperance? She would likely argue it unto death that such an idea was impossible, as in her mind, which was so formidable, God simply could not exist.
Raising his head he saw a miraculous, and unnerving sight. The absolute majestic beauty of the Sistine Chapel seemed somehow bathed in an ethereal light that illuminated the amazing frescoes in a deeper, more meaningful way. He wondered if the others saw it. Then he saw a Cardinal come before him and knew what was happening.
"Acceptasne electionem de te canonice factam in Summum Pontificem?" The venerable Cardinal Dean asked in Latin.
("Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?")
For the last time Mitch looked on his brother Cardinals as equals and then bowed his head, nodding once, and when he raised his head looked firmly at the Cardinal Dean and said in a controlled, strong voice, "Accepto!"
("I accept!")
When the Cardinal Dean asked "Quo nomine vis vocari?" ("By what name do you wish to be called?"), Mitch thought for a long minute. He seriously considered sending a powerful message by creating a new name, Ioannes Franciscus Primus, after Pope John XXIII and Pope Francis (Giovanni Francesco Primo in Italian, John Francis the First in English), but felt that that would be too much of a shock, so instead chose the one name he felt had moved the Church to an inevitable rebirth and relevance in the modern world.
"Ioannes," he told the assembled Cardinals. John! He heard the shocked intake of breath from a number of the more conservative members of the Sacred College of Cardinals. The shock of a progressive Pope of the mold of John XXIII would be enough of a foreshadowing of the kind of Pope he would likely be. Perhaps not an Ecumenical Council, but there were some things that he intended to set right within the Church.
He was led to the Room of Tears, but not before he did one thing that was traditional, but not required. He motioned the Secretary of the Conclave, a young man who was a monsignor, but who had been entrusted with this high responsibility due to merit alone, Mitch had been told. He placed his red cardinal's skull cap on the man, which indicates to all he will be named a Cardinal in the next consistory. The young man, who was perhaps 30-35 years old looked about ready to faint, and Mitch noticed a few looks of disapproval from those who did not approve of so young and relatively inexperienced priest being named a Cardinal, but it was his decision to make, not theirs.
Once in the Room of Tears he saw the rack with the white Papal Cassock's in three sizes, and the Papal Choir Dress, also in three sizes. He also saw the red shoes in various sizes, and the other Papal trappings appropriate to the Papal appearance on the Loggia. He decided to keep it simple like Pope Francis had. He removed his Cardinal's cassock and choir dress, and put on the Papal Cassock. Then he slipped on the correct size red shoes and placed on his head the correct size white skull cap. He saw a display of pectoral crosses in gold and decided that while he admired the simplicity of the late Pope Francis deeply, a gold pectoral cross was more appropriate to his station. He chose a beautiful, yet simple, one and put it in place. He then took to his knees and spent five minutes, perhaps more, praying for the strength to carry out this impossible burden, imploring God to grant him the ability to earn the worthiness to wear the accoutrements he now donned. Crossing himself and then kissing the crucifix at the end of his Rosary Beads, he left the Room of Tears and reentered the Sistine Chapel.
He made his way to the Papal Throne which had been set up for him and took his seat. He looked out over the Cardinals and invited each to come and off their fidelity and obedience. Instead of allowing them to go to a knee, he gave each a hug, considering the fraternal message of such a gesture would not be lost on this group. He then spoke to them. In English.
"I, the weakest among you, now sit on the Throne of Peter, as the Vicar of Christ on Earth. You, my Venerable Brothers, are now a part of a new time, and, a new tone, in the Church. The essential Doctrines of the Church remain, yet our specific message and tone must be adapted to meet the challenges of this new era in which technology and information have blended together to form a more informed, wary, and cynical world. Our example must be that the simple message of Christ is truly the way to a better world, and a better life. We must, however, acknowledge and respect the differences which are inherent in differing beliefs, whether within Chrisianity itself, or from without as is the case of the differences we see with Islam. My beloved predecessor, Francis, knew this, and strove to make this change in our tone possible. Now it is possible, and we will work to that end. I offer all of you, my Brothers, my Apostolic Blessing, and my fraternal love. Our duty is clear. We owe our very lives to serve Christ, but our true challenge, and greatest Joy, are waiting upon us out there to see what has been wrought with God's guiding Hand. Let us greet them, and offer them our continuing devotion and compassion."
He noticed some tears gathering in some eyes, but also some confusion and wonderment at what was going to be coming in the days ahead. As they all stood, he gave the signal for the procession to begin to make their way to the Loggia overlooking St. Peter's Square. He had no idea what he was going to say to the mulititudes. He wondered if he could get away with simply offering the Urbi et Orbi Apostolic Blessing and then make his way back inside where he had a very important phone call to make. He smiled at the thought of that coming call.
A/N: This is the first of two chapters for this story. The second chapter will be his Urbi et Orbi blessing and then the phone call to Booth and Bones. If you haven't read my unfinished story Pope Mitch I suggest you read the first chapter of it to get an idea of what that phone call will entail. This time around you will get to fins out what Mitch says to Bones and Booth. I hope you enjoyed this opening chapter. Gregg.