The Papal Coronation (1)

"Hey, wake up!" Benedict goes near the masked man - his father's subordinate who was supposed to protect him - and tries to wake him up.

"Just a little more, mom!" the masked man says while being unconscious.

Benedict becomes frustrated and he kicks the masked man.

"Argh, oh right, I'm up, . . ." the masked man wakes up and it takes him about some time to remember what happened earlier.

"Phew, my chastity is fine . . . ah, Young Master, are you alright? Did it hurt?"

"Hurt my . . . We are fine and Our chastity is protected too." Benedict stops in time before he utters a curse.

"Now, bring that muscular man back to Our father and have him interrogated." said the young Pontiff.

Only at that time, the masked man sees the muscular man lying unconscious on the floor, and being tied up.

"Did you defeat him? Since when did you become so strong?" asked the masked man.

"No, We did not defeat him, it's Our Guardian Angel who struck him unconscious when he was trying to harm Our chastity." replied Benedict.

"Oh, where is your Guardian Angel?" said the masked man while looking around.

"Fool! Angels are spirits, so you cannot see him normally unless he takes on a body of light substance for you to see, or you have special grace from God that your spiritual eyes are opened and you can see them always."

And then the young Pontiff gives the masked man a whole lecture on the Creation, on Angel along with on the differences between Angel and Human.

"Oh, I did not know that before, thank you for enlightening me, Young Master!"

"Alright, you are dismissed, bring that muscular guy to Our father."

"Yes, Young Master, but what should I tell him?"

"Just tell him the truth, God is Truth and lying is opposing to Christian virtues, it's also a sin against the 8th Commandment: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour, which includes lying, . . ."

"Stop, Young Master, I can see that you will be a good Pope, now please let me go bring that muscular man to your father."

"Alright, go!"

"Then, goodbye, Young Master!"

"Wait!"

"Yes?"

"What's your name?" asked Benedict.

"Ah, . . . it's Hayabusa!" Hayabusa is surprised by the question because to him, servant's name is not worth to be known by the master, but he replies truthfully and immediately, while being prepared to be ridiculed because of his weird name (according to the naming standard in Europe).

"Hmm, . . . no Christian name, you are not baptized?"

"Yes, Young Master, I'm a heathen . . . at least . . . for now!" Hayabusa replies while also adding the last part when seeing the eyes of the young Pontiff looking at him.

"Alright, go now, We must sleep, or We cannot rise up at dawn!"

Hayabusa carries the muscular man on his back, and prepares to go out, when he hears the words of the young Pontiff.

"Ah, one more thing, We are already the Pope, so you MUST NOT call Us 'Young Master' again, you must address Us as 'Holy Father'."

"I take it to my mind, Holy Father!" Hayabusa replies then disappears into the dark night, with the unconscious muscular man on his back.

"Finally, We can sleep in peace. Hmm, We wonder if that masked guy really came from Japan." said the Young Pontiff while closing his eyes.

. . .

Sunday, October 22, 1032, Dawn.

Just like the day before, the churches in Eternal City ring their bells. The bells' sound still has the same meaning as any other day, but today, these sounds also signifies the beginning of a joyful day, on which the new Vicar of Christ will be crowned.

Like yesterday, Benedict wakes up at dawn, and he joins other Cardinals, Bishops and monks in reciting the Divine Office. After all the morning prayers, Benedict sees a group of servants carries the Sedia Gestatoria and put it down in front of him.

(Note: Sedia Gestatoria is a portable throne used by Popes in important ceremonies.)

Benedict calmly proceeds forward and sits on the throne, then the servants raise it up. From above, Benedict could see the faces of many Cardinals, Bishops and monks, some of them with devotion, some with admiration, some with jealousy, some with contempt . . .

And afar, Benedict could see a masked man - Hayabusa standing in the shadow, looking at him.

"We wonder what face expression he is making under that mask, We can only see the eyes, but they do not show anything . . . Focus, today is Our important day, We must focus on God and the Church and Our ministry that We will be given today." thought Benedict.

Then the choir begin to sing "Tu es Petrus" (Latin: Thou art Peter), and the servants, carrying the Sedia Gestatoria with Benedict on it, proceed to the main Altar of Saint Peter's Basilica, some servants also carry ceremonial fans - the Papal flabella, go on the two sides of the Sedia Gestatoria.

Thrice, the procession stops, and a bundle of flax lashed to a gilded staff was burnt before the newly elected Pontiff, while a Papal Master or Ceremonies says: "Pater Sancte, sic transit gloria mundi" - "Holy Father, thus passes the glory of the world."