" Some of the things I have done have annoyed many Catholics. I am beginning to lose faith in my ability as a Pope. Everything I have done has been God's will. Should I just have done what the people wanted, and forget God's will?" - Pope Stephen X
After the attempted shooting of the Pope, his staff revealed to me that the Pope was shocked and confused. He told a secretary that he felt he was doing God's will. So why did some Catholics try to kill him? One can argue that Pope Stephen did not think that these reforms were big. He was like most Catholics and thought that it was about time.
The Pope's parents visited him. She revealed to me during an interview that it was Cardinal Lorenzo that persuaded them to visit. They were his last hope of getting the Pope under control. One would have helped that the shooting was an adequate warning, but Lorenzo wanted to make sure.
His mom and Dad warned him that he was going too far. They knew he was the Pope, but he could not go against dozens of other Popes and their decisions. He needed to debate things first with the cardinals and Bishops. His dad said that it was better if the majority of Cardinals and Bishops felt like they were part of a solution. They needed to feel like they were wanted.
One thing that made the Pope think was his mother told him that Catholics no longer knew what the Catholic Church was like. An example being they were told all their life that birth control was a sin, and now they were told it wasn't. His mother explained that people needed time to get used to changes. It will take a long time to get used to married priests or female ones.
She finished by saying that many Catholics do not want these changes. Pope Stephen asked what if it was God's will.
The next Cardinal meeting was very loud. The Cardinals let their frustrations out and concluded that they should at least been asked. They made it clear to the Pope that being a dictator did not work in the Catholic Church. Often a compromise would be met that would please most Catholics.
Again Pope Stephen asked what if God does not want compromise? He reminded them that the Pope was infallible and they promised their loyalty and obedience. The pope did inform them that there will be debates on many things, especially those that concern the faith.
Some Cardinals were relieved and understood that the Pope promised to work with them. Others like Cardinal Lorenzo no longer trusted the Pope.
While many were happy about the new Catholic Birth control measures, and many priests were getting married, it was clear that the Church was split. Pope Stephens critics were asking themselves what would be next? Will the Pope support abortion or would he support homosexuality? On the other side, some Catholics wanted more change.
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