Episode 241
The weight of relinquishing a tradition that has endured for over a thousand years is anything but light.
Though the name “Caliph” was often at the center of the commotion, and thus frequently mentioned, Pope Peter II also felt as if he were dragging lead weights with every step.
Who could have imagined that he, the first to use the name Peter II, would be the one to herald the end of the papacy?
He had long claimed to be God’s representative, ruling over Catholicism as if he owned it, yet he had known for some time that this day would come.
In essence, Peter II found himself in a situation not so different from the Caliph, who had been brought here against his will.
The reason there had been little outcry was that Peter II had been close to the Prophet and was among the first to acknowledge him.
However, this peace was as fragile as walking on thin ice, liable to shatter at any moment.
If someone were to question why he still acted as if he owned the Church, what could he possibly say in response?
Blasphemy? It would be all too easy for someone to retort that he was the one committing blasphemy.
He had known this day would come ever since hearing that the Byzantine Emperor had adjusted his position.
Before the noise grew too loud, it was best to step down voluntarily.
That was why he hadn’t opposed when Philip II proposed the abolition of the Caliph and the Pope as an official agenda.
Peter II remembered the relief on the cardinals’ faces when he agreed to Philip’s proposal.
“Thank goodness we avoided a bigger mess.”
Even within the Vatican, the heart of Catholicism, the cardinals and bishops had already reached a consensus.
Had he resisted to the end, he might have been dragged down in disgrace, if not as dramatically as the Caliph.
With that thought, Peter II felt a slight easing of his heavy heart.
“You’ve made a wise decision, Your Holiness… or rather, um…”
“Please, call me the High Priest. It seems that will be my new title in Italy.”
“Yes, a commendable decision. In fact, it might be for the best. The Prophet has promised you a new role, recognizing your sincere heart.”
Philip II, the instigator of this upheaval, cautiously gauged Peter II’s reaction.
Seeing no sign of displeasure, he continued.
“It might be odd for me to say this, given my role in all this, but it was only a matter of time. When faced with an inevitable tide, it’s better to ride it than resist. You’ve done that admirably.”
“There’s no need to feel too sorry. As you said, it was only a matter of time. It’s like being given a reason to cry when you already wanted to. I bear no grudge. In fact, I’m grateful. Thanks to you, the Prophet has promised me a new position. Ha ha ha.”
Though the title of Pope would disappear, he would still oversee and manage the bishops as the High Priest of Italy.
Considering the symbolic weight of the name Peter, this might be preferable to ruling like a master.
The Prophet, who declared the advancement of technology and scholarship as a primary goal, announced the creation of an institution to implement the new global religious ideology.
It’s always faster and cheaper to improve existing structures than to build entirely new ones.
Thus, the Roman Academy was established by reorganizing the existing Curia, with Peter II naturally becoming its head.
This meant he wasn’t being ousted but rather entrusted with a new, significant role.
“I’ve recently realized that the Prophet never disadvantages those close to him. Even in the Holy Roman Empire, he mediated so that both the Emperor and the Duke, who fought alongside him in the Crusades, benefited. King Richard became an unchallenged monarch in England, and I’ve gained much as well. The Sultan of Ayyub and the Byzantine Emperor are also achieving their goals.”
“So you’re saying I can expect the same.”
“Absolutely. Between us, I can honestly say that the position of Academy Head will soon feel far more valuable than that of High Priest.”
Science, technology, and scholarship are among the highest values pursued by the global religion.
As the head of the institution overseeing these, he would naturally wield significant influence.
The more Peter II pondered Philip II’s words, the more convinced he became that this was not a loss.
Perhaps he would be the one to gain the most from this transition.
The heavy burden that had weighed on his heart seemed to vanish as if it had never been there.
It just goes to show the importance of aligning oneself with the right people.
In retrospect, his past decision to side with Philip seemed like the wisest choice he had ever made.
The fate of At Nasir was to be decided in a public trial for all to see.
Though the outcome had already been determined, the trial was meant to quickly inform as many people as possible.
To ensure maximum attendance, the trial was held in Cairo’s largest open space, with extensive publicity.
Imams, unaware of the details, gathered with as many followers as possible, eager to witness the mad At Nasir face judgment.
As the crowd swelled to the point where there was no room to move, At Nasir was finally brought to the stage under heavy guard, greeted by a chorus of boos.
“Boooo!”
“Death to the mad apostate At Nasir!”
“Death to the false claimant of God’s representative!”
“Death! Death! Death!”
The air was filled with a menacing clamor, yet At Nasir remained motionless, kneeling and staring only at the high seat.
When I finally took my place alongside Saladin, the crowd fell silent.
Al Adil, who had escorted At Nasir, knelt and loudly proclaimed the charges against the self-proclaimed Caliph.
“We present the criminal At Nasir, who denied the authority of the Apostle and falsely claimed to be God’s representative. We ask the true representative of God, the Apostle, to pronounce the rightful punishment for his crimes!”
“Punishment is only meaningful for those who understand their wrongs. At Nasir, can you confess what you have done wrong?”
It was widely known within the Ayyubid realm that the self-proclaimed Caliph had succumbed to severe madness.
The imams watching wore twisted smiles, anticipating the nonsense that might spill from his lips.
But At Nasir spoke in a clear, steady voice, surprising everyone.
“I lost my reason to the demons of power and greed, committing unforgivable sins.”
”…?”
His speech was clearer and more articulate than when I last saw him.
The crowd, as well as the amirs who had betrayed him, were visibly shocked.
“Admitting your sins implies awareness of your past actions?”
“Yes. Though I was consumed by madness and committed senseless acts, it was undeniably me, and I have no intention of evading responsibility. I only wish to apologize to those who suffered due to my madness, to my subordinates who had no choice but to betray their lord, and to my brother, who was forced to hand me over to the enemy.”
“Brother, how…?”
What must it feel like for a family member to see someone who had lost their mind suddenly regain it?
Abdallah, At Nasir’s brother, who was watching near Al Adil, muttered in disbelief.
“He was completely out of his mind…”
“Abdallah, is it? Can you vouch that At Nasir was indeed in a state of madness?”
“Yes, Apostle! If my brother had been in his right mind, I would have urged him to surrender rather than betray him.”
“So it seems. At Nasir, what led you to change your heart?”
“The moment I met the Apostle, the madness that had consumed my mind vanished, allowing me to recognize my foolishness.”
I added a touch of exaggeration for dramatic effect, given the audience. The imams were murmuring about how even the insane could regain their senses in the Apostle’s presence, casting awed glances my way.
“Confess specifically what your foolishness entailed. And if you have any insights into why it happened, share them.”
“The root of all was claiming the false title of Caliph. I realized that my arrogance and impudence in claiming to be God’s representative as a means of governance, not faith, pushed me into an inescapable mire of sin.”
“So the title of Caliph is the source of sin?”
“With the true representative of God before me, what greater sin could there be than presumptuously claiming that title? I only hope that no one else commits the same sin as I did. And I deeply apologize to all the people of the Muwahhidun who suffered under the deceit of a false leader.”
The title of Caliph itself was akin to the root of sin.
At Nasir’s shocking confession left the surroundings in a stunned silence.
With this, no one present here, nor anyone who hears this story, will dare suggest appointing a new caliph for the Muwaḥḥid.
Even Abdullah, who secretly coveted the position of the next caliph, could only stare in disbelief at his brother, who had suddenly transformed from a fool into a man of wisdom.
Thus, the title of caliph, both now and in the future, has been sealed away.
The moment the one who bore the title declared it a mere ruse to deceive the masses, the name lost all its meaning.
Pope Peter II will also officially renounce the title of pope, leaving no room for further debate.
No more popes, no more caliphs.
This marked the moment when the two great pillars of Christianity and Islam, which had dominated the religious world for centuries, faded into the annals of history forever.