Callixtus IV Exit
Callixtus IV died on the 29th of September 1875 after having guided the Church to become the preeminent power in Italy. However, as he himself realized, this had not come without cost as the rest of Europe was forced to take a side on the issue of Italian unification under a theocracy. In France especially, those of republican inclinations often voiced their opposition to the Papal alliance and contributed to the fraying of this relationship that had lasted for half a century.
Another factor for which Callixtus’ papacy is remembered is that of his industrial policy and the expansion of this sector from a small operation of about twenty thousand workers in 1860 to one hundred and twenty thousand in 1875. This exponential increase can be understood in terms of the pope’s expansion into the heavily industrial region of Lombardy, but this would only provide a partial answer. Callixtus had long had an interest in the potential of the new technology in his younger years and there is ample evidence for serious investments made in the sector to keep the fledgling state competitive with its more established neighbors.
However, the main legacy of this pontiff will always be his extensive social reforms and the First Vatican Council which, despite modifications from Vatican II and Vatican III, remains the bedrock of the modern Catholic Church. The embracing of modernity in a time when traditional religious institutions were seeking stability was unexpected and widely commented on in the circles who understood its implications. A Church that embraced innovation rather than merely choosing to tolerate it is one of the factors that saw foreign observers prefer the Papacy to some of the more conservative Italian powers of the time.
The institution of a partial conciliarism on the model of the Council of Constance was revolutionary in Catholic theology with the end of a religiously autocratic Catholic Church and the inauguration of what some call the “Papal Principate”. Though the research is still inconclusive, it appears that this decision convinced many protestants, especially in Mitteleuropa, to convert in numbers not seen in recent memory.
This is to say that Callixtus is often indicated as the architect of Papal Italy and, though he was not wholly successful, he features frequently on lists of the most influential popes in history.
The conclave succeeding his death is characterized as a rather mysterious affair where even those closest to the Curia did not properly understand how the election moved, but what is certain is that backroom deals were the order of the day and had a monumental effect on the future of Italy.
From the personal diaries of Cardinal Annibale Lisi
Wednesday 13th of October 1875
I still need to get used to the idea that Libero is gone and now, without him, the spotlight is on me alone. I passed from confusion to elation during the election today since I have been entrusted with a simple majority of the votes. I don't maintain any illusion that the election is over, but I know I need to now dedicate myself to the consolidation and expansion of my lead.
Felicetti is second at the moment and he appeals strongly to those that want reform to slow down and return to a style of government more in line with their memories of Gregory. In the meantime, I stand in an opposite political position with the promise to build on Callixtus' legacy and propel the Papal States into the world of tomorrow. In the middle lie a couple of minor candidates with few votes and these are the people that I must rally to my side. I know that reform has not sat well with everyone and many are tired of war so I have to remind them of the great prosperity that a Callixtine agenda has brought and my preparedness for the job. For goodness' sake, I was acting Pope for the last six months and a close collaborator for almost a decade; if anyone is qualified that is me.
But I need to be careful to not overstate my role, lest the cardinals think I already had my papacy and others should take the position now. I must prepare for a protracted conclave and make my moves with careful precision to ensure that another Callixtus might rise to the throne of Peter. In the morning I will approach the supporters of Formica and Andreano, the other two candidates appointed to the Curia in recent years, and see that they wish to maintain the current course.
From the personal diaries of Cardinal Giulio Felicetti
Thursday 14th of October 1875
Today's counts have gone according to plan and we've managed to reduce Lisi's lead to nothing at all. Andreano accepted our little deal and has agreed to elevate my chosen cardinals upon his election in exchange for my share of the votes. In fairness, after a pontiff like Callixtus, it was always unlikely that I would be chosen as a successor but Andreano is traditional enough to be accepted by my followers while appealing to those cardinals who feel uneasy with Lisi's quasi-heretical ways.
I pray to God that he may lead the Church away from the spiritual tribulations that it has faced in these years just as I endeavored to reverse the damage. I know in my heart that my efforts in this conclave will be successful, but I also understand that the Lord is showing us how hard we have to fight to ensure that the Church is not corrupted and cast into modern obscurantism.
I take special care that this lesson is learned by any like-minded cardinals that they may understand what a great responsibility they are faced with. Some may have been seduced by Lisi's honeyed words, some by his heterodoxy while some merely by his experience. This last largest group is the one I must focus on. They need to see that a young shepherd is a much better choice than an experienced wolf who has shown in every one of his actions that he is no friend of the Church and just wants to bend it to the will of Socialists and atheists. We only need a third of Lisi's supporters and we can greet a new righteous pope, fewer still if we can crush little Formica and his non-entity voters. These, perhaps more than the radicals, are the greatest cancer within our mother Church because they join us only when they can achieve nothing with their noble status while they care little for faith or even God. The new pope will have to burn away this corruption and return the clergy to its true vocation.
Sicut in caelo etiam in terra.
From the personal diaries of Cardinal Patrizio Formica
Friday 15th of October 1875
I have gone to sleep every day more exhausted than the last. All of this politics really saps my strength with not much to gain on my side. I was ready to throw my weight, such as it is, behind Felicetti but then some mysterious backroom deal happened and now Andreano, young and green as he is, is the man against Lisi. Yesterday was a stalemate between the two but today a couple of the members of the Aviary Association shifted their votes to the long-serving grey eminence. Seeing how that shift has begun to take place, I see no reason to hold my pool in reserve anymore and I will move to endorse Andreano so that we may try the unknown moderate rather than the familiar radical. However, if each of my supporters chooses to follow my lead, Andreano will only have a paltry majority of one and that can change in a heartbeat. I'm sure Lisi is deep in the games he has invented in the past decade and will not give up the fight easily while I have no idea what the newcomer is thinking. Perhaps it is unwise to merely vote against someone without being sure upon whom we are deflecting power.
I cannot deal with so much uncertainty for such an important position, I pray that this conclave will emerge with a strong victor and a Papacy that will do the least damage to the Papal States by allowing us to live in peace. And, who knows, it might not matter at all with Lisi either sitting on the throne or pulling the strings from behind the scenes regardless of the opinions of cardinals. That, at least, is mercifully out of my hands.
From the personal diaries of Cardinal Luca Andreano
Saturday 16th of October 1875
Another inconclusive day. When this started, Felicetti offered his support in the hope that it would be a quick victory, but the election has dragged on since then with only a couple of votes changing hands. I fear that my moderation is tainted by Felicetti's aid and even moderate partisans of Lisi will be difficult to sway at this point.
Despite how gloomy this might seem; I still firmly believe that I can break this deadlock and win the election. Though it has taken me an impressive amount of time, I have conversed with the most influential cardinals in detail to understand what they would want from me as pope and why they are still supporting Lisi. It turns out that many of them expect a short papacy to wrap up the loose ends that Callixtus left behind with his reforms and not a great leap ever forward. I did my best to remind them that Callixtus was a moderating influence on Lisi and if he were elected, he would not be content to curate someone else's legacy but would cast us far into the unknown.
I felt a spark of hope when I managed to make some of them waver in their conviction and ask me if I would collaborate with Lisi if I were to win the election. I, of course, remained noncommittal but I need to weigh that option carefully: the man is fifteen years my senior and is unlikely to outlast me, it could be an acceptable sacrifice. I will think on this in the night, and I must make sure that Felicetti hears nothing of this, the last thing I want is for him to squander all this hard work.