Pope Joan Page #6

However, I am feeling

quite well, thank you.

And I'm here not just to observe.

I am here to preside.

I rejoice to hear it,

as does all Rome.

Well, proceed.

Holy Father,

I was requesting permission...

to rebuild the old orphanage

into a hostelry for pilgrims.

And what would become of the orphans?

There are poor houses that can take them.

This hostelry will be the pride of Rome.

Counts, dukes, even kings

will seek to stay there.

Orphans are no less dear

to God than kings.

Your request is denied, Mamertus.

I've already made a deal

with the Nomenclator.

We have an arrangement, and payment

has already been made.

Payment?

Well, Holy Father, Mamertus offered

a generous donation to the Church...

in order to expedite

the success of his undertaking.

Ah! Blessed are all the merciful,

for they shall find mercy.

We thank you for your

generous donation, Mamertus.

It will be used to help the orphans.

God will repay you.

Next.

Tell me about yourself, Johannes.

You come from Franconia,

yet you are called "Anglicus".

My father came from Britannia

to preach God's word to the Saxons.

Ah, the Saxons. A godless people!

Most are Christians now...

as much as any can be who are brought

to the faith with fire and sword.

It is the Church's duty

to convert the heathens.

What value has any pledge

exacted by force?

Yet Christ commands us

to spread God's word...

among all the races of the earth

and baptize His people.

But... consider the order

of the commandment.

First, teach the people,

then baptize them.

How could we offer the sacrament of baptism

before faith is lodged in the heart?

You reason well.

Where were you educated?

A Greek schoolmaster, by the

name of Aesculapius, taught me.

Then I went to the Schola in Dorstadt, and

later I joined the brotherhood at Fulda.

Fulda. The Abbot recently presented me

with a beautiful psalm, Ah...

When I thank him, I shall mention

your skilled service.

- I fear he would not speak well of me.

- Why is that?

He holds obedience

be the greatest of all religious vows.

Yet to me it has always

come the hardest.

Is that so?

What about the other vows?

I was born into poverty and

am accustomed to it.

What about chastity?

I have always resisted

the temptations of women.

I'm glad to hear it.

Soon after Enodius was expelled

from the Palace,

and Sergius made

Johanna his personal physician.

He included her in

political decisions as well.

Over the next few years, Johanna became

one of the Pope's most trusted confidants.

Nicephorus

would make a good bishop, Holiness.

Yes?

He is not Roman, so many will

be opposed to his appointment,

but he is a man of God

and will remain true to you.

So it will be.

Today I shall...

Holy Father! The Bishops

need to see you urgently.

What's all this?

Emperor Lothair is on the march to Rome,

recruiting troops in every city.

And he'll be here in ten days.

He has sworn revenge against Rome,

for our insulting him.

I predicted it!

Not to wait for the Emperor's approval

of your consecration...

...was a provocation.

It was a sign of strength!

The Frankish throne needs us

more than we need it.

But now his is marching on Rome.

Spare me your point, you!

I do not wish to hear it.

- What is so important, Count Gerold?

- It's been another incident.

Five soldiers pillaged a farm stead

and nearly beat the farmer to death.

Have them whipped.

Anything else?

You didn't disturb me just for

this trifling matter?

My Lord, with respect,

this entire campaign is irresponsible.

Instead of protecting our coast

from the Norsemen,

we're recruiting peasants

who don't even understand...

why we're marching against the Pope.

Sergius has publicly defied

my rule of authority.

But he has no army! So why are we

gathering nearly 5,000 men?

The more impressively

we're marching to Rome,

the more quickly

the Pope will surrender.

and the sooner these blockheads

can get back to their squalid homes.

What has seemed you would

rather be yourself.

As you know, I haven't. No home.

The army has become my home. Still...

Enough.

Instead of lecturing your Emperor,

you should be tending the black sheep

in your rings.

You may go.

By the way, Gerold. A bishop from

Rome arrived a short while ago,

and seeks an audience with me.

Apparently I was right to march

with so many men.

Follow me please!

Arighis?

- What can I do?

- The city's best engineers!

Can you summon them?

At once.

Emperor Lothair!

Before this holiest shrine,

the Tabernacle of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and his earthly representative,

kneel and show due respect!

It is you, Holy Father,

who owes me a sign of respect,

and I am here to demand it!

Lord! Give us a sign!

Is seeing us...

not sign enough?

Behold the hand of God which has brought

this holiest of His altars against you.

God has revealed himself to you, Lothair,

If you respect Him, His power,

and His anointed representative,

then you are welcome in Rome.

However, if you dare show your sword

at the tomb of the Apostle,

the wrath of God will descend upon you...

and your soldiers!

Can you be so pitiless, Lord?

I thought I had banished him

from my heart.

Must you test my resolve again?

Johanna?

It really is you.

I never thought our apparatus would work

with such heavy doors.

My men and I

returned one day too late.

I've searched for you for days but...

I also knew the Norsemen to be...

merciless creatures who

often abduct women.

I buried your brother

next to my daughters.

And... after many weeks, we still

haven't find a trace of your hair.

Forgive me, I... I buried you in spirit.

But you're alive!

How did you come to this?

God led me here on an unusual path.

Why did you want to marry that boy?

- You... you yourself ordered it.

- What?

You wanted me to marry me off.

She had told me everything.

She knew about us.

About what happened at the river.

How could she'd known if not from you?

No, I... I swear to you Johanna,

I never...

She said I was just another one

of your many conquests.

And you believed her?

Even then I wanted you more than

I have wanted any woman before.

But didn't want you as my lover.

I wanted you as my wife.

Finally! The Savior of Rome

shows his face.

We owe you a debt of gratitude,

Johannes Anglicus.

It was God's will, Holiness,

that you and your papacy be saved.

I have decided to name you

Papal Nomenclator.

But Anastasius has held

that position for years.

God has chosen you as his instrument,

and I mean to obey his will.

- You are too gracious, Holy Father.

- And yet you hesitated.

Johannes, it is an exceptional position

and exceptional honor.

You will be first Secretary

to his Holiness.

Do not press him, Arighis!

Surely we can allow the defender of the

Papal Throne a night to consider.

That cannot be!

Word has spread from the entire palace.

A foreigner pursued your position?

You'll be disgrace to our family!

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