Your Holiness, Please Ascend the Throne
“How do you think the problem of heresy should be solved?” “Hang the unbelievers and burn them.” “And how do you believe the Church’s purity should be maintained?” “Hang the impure and burn them
October 14th, 1066 AD.
In the ruins of Rome, a man stood atop a barrel, clutching a battered scripture in his hands.
“By Hermes above! These priests are all frauds!”
“I tell you, our world is round! A sphere! You’ve all been deceived!”
“I beg you, open your eyes and see these impostors for who they are!”
The citizens of Rome watched this raving man with murmurs and doubtful glances. None of them believed the world was spherical, yet the man persisted in his stubborn conviction.
As the crowd buzzed with speculation, the man abruptly ceased his preaching. He lifted his gaze toward the edge of the gathering.
Soon enough, he saw them clearly—a priest flanked by several knights and guards, pushing their way through the throng toward him.
Yet, rather than fear, the man spread his arms with composure.
“Citizens, bear witness! Today, I shall defeat these devils in priestly robes with the power of debate! I will reveal the truth to the world!”
But before he could finish, he recognized the priest’s face.
The priest, too, recognized him. Without hesitation, he pointed at the man and barked orders to the knights at his side.
“Seize him at once!”
When Leo shouted these words, there was not the faintest trace of mercy in his tone. He was no gentle-hearted cleric.
Even as the knights restrained the madman, the latter could not comprehend that the priest truly intended to arrest him.
“I am here to preach! What do you intend to do?”
The man lashed out with fists and feet, fighting desperately.