Pope Julius II: You may tell your master,
the King of France…
that I have looked up the Cardinal
Clermont in Sant’Angelo…
because he is no
better than a spy.
I know where the loyalty
You belong with your King,
not with your church.
Don’t tempt me to provide
you both with similar lodgings.
French Ambassador: My master will be
deeply distressed…
when I report Your Holiness’s
words to him.
Pope Julius II: Remind your master
that I am at war…
and I will remain at war until
I have recovered the Papal States…
for the Church!
Every city, every village,
every foot of ground.
And I will stand no interference
from your master, or anyone else.
French Ambassador: The King of France wishes
…in your enterprise.
Pope Julius II:- Yes, and spies on me…
in my own court, stirs up my
enemies throughout Italy…
and even boasts in private
that he will put a Frenchman…
on the throne of Peter and before
long make me his chaplain!
French Ambassador: But His Majesty entertains nothing
but veneration for Your Holiness.
Pope Julius II: His Majesty called
me anti-Christ…
that only a stick on my back
would keep me in order.
Let him learn that
I too carry a stick.
Let him learn that I am the Pope!
The audience is over.
Screenplay, The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)
It was announced today at the Vatican that the Pope has agreed to serve as Chaplain of the Biden administration. Sister Mera Tricious made the announcement:
Sister: The Pope has been asked by President Biden to act as his administration’s Chaplain, to provide moral support and direction and the Holy Father has agreed.
Media: Will the Pope remain Pope?
Sister: Yes, it is thought that his role as Chaplain will be merely ceremonial and the Holy Father will be able to attend to his papal duties without interruption. Day to day activities as Chaplain of the Biden administration will be conducted by sub-chaplains from the Jesuit order appointed by the Pope.
Media: Isn’t this unprecedented?
Sister: That is a question better addressed to historians.
Media: Doesn’t this show political favoritism on the part of the Pope?
Sister: Not at all. The Holy Father merely views this as giving spiritual assistance to a devout Catholic who happens to be the head of a nation.
Media: What about the American tradition of the separation of Church and State?
Sister: American legislative bodies often have chaplains. The Holy Father views this as similar in nature to that tradition.
Media: Doesn’t President Biden differ with the Pope on any number of important issues like abortion and homosexual rights?
Sister: That would be a question better given directly to His Holiness.
Media: Is the Pope being paid for acting as Chaplain?
Sister: No.
Media: Won’t this disturb the many American Catholics who voted for Donald Trump?
Sister: Cardinal Cupich of Chicago has advised the Pope that the overwhelming majority of American Catholics will view this with pride.
Media: When will the Pope take up his duties as Chaplain?
Sister: April 1, 2021.
Media: Will the Pope travel to Washington.
Sister: No, the President will travel to Rome. President Harris will arrive, oh, I wasn’t supposed to say that.
And with that, the press conference abruptly ended, as Sister scampered away, pursued by shouted questions from the assembled media.
Democrats must be smiling to themselves on how well their devilish delicious Machiavellian tactics have worked to bring them to power, and especially now with a “Pope” under their control.
Live by Machiavelli, die by Machiavelli. Come to think of it, Machiavelli’s career in Florentine politics was a dumpster fire failure.