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Vatican Papal State
Vatican Cross
The Christian Cross is the most recognized symbol of the Vatican Papal State and the Catholic Church.

Type of government

Head of state

Government branches

  • Papacy (Executive branch)[3]
  • Concistoro (Legislative branch)[4]
  • Inquisition Committee (Judicial branch)[4]

Capital

Rome (Vatican City)[2]

Languages

Currency

Dinar[2]

Religion

Christianity (Catholic Church)[2]

Demonym

Vatican[2]

Native race

Human[2]

Date established

"If the Vatican had not pulled together humankind as one and hadn't protected those humans with unusual powers that could only be explained as "God's gift," then they [vampires] would have dominated humans by now."
―Trinity Blood Reborn on the Mars - Volume 1: The Star of Sorrow, Chapter 4 The Star of Sorrow

The Vatican Papal State, also known as the Vatican Domain, the Vatican Territory, the Holy See, and most commonly referred to as the Vatican, is a sovereign ecclesiastical state ruled by the Pope, the Bishop of Rome and leader of the Roman Catholic Church. In the beginning of the 22nd century AD, human civilization was almost completely destroyed as a result of Armageddon, an apocalyptic war followed by the subsequent era of the Dark Ages. In light of global devastation and the collapse of the United Nations, mankind sought refuge and protection in the Church, giving the Vatican responsibility and leadership over the human race. Despite the Vatican's once supreme authority, humans have begun to put their faith in local leaders and nobles, taking authority from the Vatican. However, in spite of its diminished influence, the Vatican remains the greatest form of human leadership since Armageddon.

The Vatican is a prominent political and cultural force in the international community, one of the few countries in possession of the lost technologies, and a major military power responsible for protecting humans from the Methuselah—a race of vampire-like beings that nearly drove humanity into extinction during the Dark Ages. In addition to its role as the primary leader of humanity in the continuing struggle for peace with the Methuselah, the Vatican is also responsible for seeking out and eliminating rogue factions from both sides that want to initiate another full-scale war between the two races.

The Methuselah regard the Vatican as an anti-vampire organization, although hatred and distrust are prevalent on both sides. At present, the Vatican is engaged in a cold war with the New Human Empire, the sole remaining Methuselah nation. Despite the ongoing stalemate, relations between the Vatican and the Empire have improved significantly under their current leaders, Pope Alessandro XVIII and Empress Augusta Vradica, respectively. In addition to a more stable relationship with the Empire, the Vatican has also strengthened its diplomatic ties to the Kingdom of Albion since the coronation of Queen Esther Blanchett, the heir to the Albion throne and a former nun in the service of the Church.

Name[]

Although "Vatican Papal State" is the primary endonym of the government and the state as a whole, the short form "Vatican" (Latin: Vaticanus) is the standard and most common name of the Catholic Church's government and sovereign territory. The name "Vatican" is derived from Vatican Hill (Mons Vaticanus), a hill in Rome, located on the opposite side of the River Tiber from the traditional seven hills of Rome.

Alternatively, the name "Holy See" (Sancta Sedes) is also ascribed to the government and sovereign territory of the Church.[7] In the past, the Vatican and the Holy See were distinct and separate from each other; the former was known as Vatican City—a territory under the sovereign rule of the latter—and the Holy See was the name of the central governing body of the Catholic Church. However, with the merging of the Church's ecclesiastical and political jurisdictions in the post-Armageddon world, the names "Vatican" and "Holy See" are used interchangeably in reference to the sovereign state of the Church.

History[]

Pre-Armageddon[]

The Vatican has its roots in Vatican City, the pre-Armageddon sovereign territory of the Holy See. Although Vatican City was founded in 1929 AD, the history of the modern Vatican is tied to the far older history of the Holy See. As the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church, the Holy See dates back to antiquity; and in this regard, the Vatican represents one of the oldest institutions in human history. By the early 21st century AD, the status of Vatican City remained largely unaltered since its founding; it was a walled enclave within the city of Rome, encompassing a total area of approximately 44 hectares (110 acres), and a population of less than a thousand citizens, making it is the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the world by both area and population at the time.

Armageddon[]

Vatican 3

The Vatican, as seen during the day (above) and at night (below)

By 2080 AD, the human population of Earth exceeded 12 billion, creating a severe strain on the planet's resources. In an attempt to counter the increasing costs of overpopulation, the United Nations initiated the Red Mars Project—a global endeavor to colonize the planet Mars. Despite its initial progress, the project ended in failure after the Mars colonists discovered the Ark; an advanced spacecraft of unknown origin, the discovery of the Ark also led to the discovery of the technology within it, namely the Kudlak Bacillus and the Crusnik nanomachines. The desire to gain possession of the Ark and its technology caused the colonists of various nationalities to turn against each other, resulting in a conflict on Mars that carried over to Earth. No longer united by their common cause to colonize Mars, the nations descended into a state of global war, culminating in a nuclear apocalypse known as Armageddon.

In the aftermath of the fighting, most of the Earth was rendered barren and uninhabitable. By contrast, Europe was spared from the effects of the nuclear holocaust, however—as were parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Whereas most of the world became contaminated by radiation from the nuclear fallout, Europe was only affected by biological warfare. The loss of life notwithstanding, Europe remained suitable for human habitation compared to the rest of the now nuclear irradiated planet. The Catholic Church not only survived the destruction of the old world, but also became a major factor in the preservation of human civilization. In addition to the Church's rise as a political and military power, its sovereign territory—the Vatican Papal State—expanded far beyond the original borders of Vatican City. By the 31st century AD, almost a millennium after the events of the Armageddon, the Vatican had grown to cover the lands of 21st century Italy, Switzerland, and most of the former Yugoslavia.

Dark Ages[]

In the wake of Armageddon, the remaining humans survived only to endure another catastrophe: the Dark Ages, a period of conflict that nearly drove the remnants of mankind to extinction following the Mars colonists' return to Earth. Exposure to the Kudlak Bacillus and Earth's closer proximity to the Sun caused the "Returners" to develop vampire-like symptoms, ultimately spawning the Methuselah race. The Crusnik siblings Cain Knightlord, Abel Nightroad and Seth Nightlord—artificially-bred humans created for the Red Mars Project—joined the war and took the side of the Methuselah due to their resentment of humanity.

With the Methuselah under their control, the Crusniks embarked on a genocidal campaign that resulted in the deaths of millions of Terrans—the descendants of Earth-born humans who never lived on Mars. However, one Returner refused to participate in the annihilation of the human race; Lilith Sahl, the fourth Crusnik, joined the war on the side of humanity by forming an alliance with Pope Gregorio XX of the Vatican. She also supplied the humans with technology and electricity in several places, including Budapest and István. Under her leadership, the Terran army defeated the Methuselah in the Battle of Paris. Shortly afterward, Knightlord lured Sahl to the Ark under the false assurance of his "desire" for a peaceful resolution to the war. Sahl was murdered by Cain, but her martyrdom ultimately caused Abel to repent for his actions against humanity. After Sahl's murder, her body was buried under Rome.[8]

Holy Era[]

"The Vatican was the most powerful human organization on the planet. So many people looked to them for safety and support."
―Caterina Sforza[src]
Vatican

By the 31st century AD, the Vatican stood as humanity's strongest political and military power.

Despite the loss of Sahl, the Terrans ultimately prevailed over the Methuselah and subsequently drove them out of Western Europe. In honor of humanity's triumph over the Methuselah, the Vatican proclaimed 2401 AD—the year that marked the conclusion of the Terran-Methuselah war—as the start of the Holy Era. Though defeated by the Vatican and its allies, many surviving Methuselah were rallied under Seth Nightlord's leadership. Nightlord, who restyled herself Empress Augusta Vradica, established the New Human Empire in Eastern Europe, as well as the eastern regions of the Mediterranean Basin, including Anatolia, the Levant, and Egypt. As a result, Europe became divided by a political and cultural barrier between the Terran West, under the protection of the Vatican, and the Methuselah East, now ruled by the Empire.

The history of Vatican-Imperial relations has been lukewarm at best, resulting in several conflicts between Vatican forces and the Imperial Army. In 2792 AD (Year 392), the Eleventh Crusade culminated with the death of Pope Sylvester XIX during the Battle of Debrecen. War broke out again between the Vatican and the Empire in 2948 AD (Year 548) due to border disputes. Both sides sustained heavy casualties and were ultimately forced to call a truce after the Battle of Przemysl.

Over the centuries, the Empire of the East has stood as a constant threat to the Vatican and the West. Both sides regard each other with hatred and distrust. The Vatican is seen by many Methuselah as an anti-vampire organization.[9] However, many humans have been terrorized and killed by rogue vampires, which has caused the Vatican and other Terran nations to remain distrustful towards Methuselah in general. In order to counter the technological and military strength of the Empire, the Vatican endeavored to strengthen its influence in the international community through various alliances and close diplomatic relations with other Terran countries, such as the independentKingdom of Albion.

Path to peace[]

In spite of the cold war that defined Vatican-Imperial relations, the two rivals grudgingly cooperated to track and kill Endre Kourza, a Methuselah criminal hiding in Vatican territory and wanted by the Empire. The two governments contributed a single agent to the joint task of hunting Kourza. Abel Nightroad, the one-time enemy of humanity and now an operative of the AX, was sent to represent the Vatican. His Imperial counterpart for this mission was the Methuselah noblewoman Astharoshe Asran, duchess of Kiev and viscountess of Odessa. Though initially spiteful of Nightroad and Terrans in general, Asran gradually began to trust and rely on Nightroad. They ultimately formed a rapport by the time of Kourza's death, and in recognition of their newfound friendship, Asran acknowledged Nightroad as her "Tovarish" ("Comrade").[10]

The success of Nightroad and Asran's assignment demonstrated that peace between the Vatican and the Empire was possible.[10] As a result, Empress Augusta Vradica sent an Imperial representative—the young Methuselah nobleman Ion Fortuna—to secretly open negotiations with the Vatican, hoping that a more stable relationship between the two great powers would lead to peaceful coexistence between Terrans and the Methuselah. Fortuna attempted to establish contact with Cardinal Caterina Sforza during her tour of Carthage, but was mistaken for an assassin and subsequently forced to run from the AX. Fearing the consequences of this misunderstanding, Sforza instructed Nightroad to locate and protect Fortuna. However, a contingent of the Department of Inquisition was dispatched to Carthage with orders to kill the vampire.[11]

Vatican-Imperial Peace Treaty

Astharoshe Asran and Caterina Sforza negotiated a peace treaty between the Empire and the Vatican.

With the assistance of an initially reluctant nun named Esther Blanchett, and an even more skeptical inquisitor Petros Orsini, Nightroad saved Fortuna's life and discovered the culprits responsible for the incident in Carthage. The terrorists of the Rosencreutz Orden had attempted to sever relations between the Vatican and the Empire by manipulating the former into killing the latter's ambassador.[12] By saving Fortuna and preventing another terrorist plot against both sides, Nightroad's actions brought the Vatican and the Empire another step closer to peace.[13]

In light of the improving conditions of Vatican-Imperial relations, Nightroad and Blanchett were invited to accompany Fortuna on his return journey to Byzantium, the capital of the Empire.[14] Once again, the Rosencreutz tried to undermine the peace negotiations by orchestrating a conspiracy to assassinate Empress Vradica. Their chosen pawn in the assassination plot was Süleyman, a high-ranking nobleman who had served the Empress for over three centuries, only to become disillusioned by Vradica's desire for peace between Terrans and the Methuselah.[15] However, the intervention of several key individuals from both nations—Nightroad, Blanchett, Fortuna and Astharoshe Asran—ultimately exposed Süleyman's treachery and connection to the Rosencreutz.[16]

Shortly after the events in Byzantium, the Empress commissioned Fortuna and Asran as Imperial envoys to the Holy See.[17] Despite the skepticism of Cardinal Francesco di Medici, who remained adamant about his belief that the Empire was a threat to the Vatican,[18] Cardinal Sforza was able to complete the peace negotiations with Asran. With the achievement of peace between the Vatican and the Empire finally realized, Sforza hoped that the new treaty would last for generations. Asran confessed that her people also shared Sforza's hope.[19][20]

Albion[]

Queen Bridget II of the Kingdom of Albion died in early 3064 AD. With her death and the lack of a designated heir, the future of Albion was uncertain. Fearing the loss of Albion's status as an independent nation if the throne was inherited by one of the late queen's foreign relations, such as King Ludwig II of Germanicus, the Albion government sought to strengthen their relationship with the Vatican. The Vatican shared the Albion government's concerns; the present situation could not afford any sudden alterations in the balance of power, given the fragile stability maintained by the equilibrium in the international community. At the request of Albion's interim leaders, Pope Alessandro XVIII presided over the funeral of Bridget II in Londinium, the capital of Albion.[18]

Mary Spencer and Virgil Walsh, seeking to impress the Vatican with Albion's supply of Lost Technology, arranged a private tour of the Albion Underground Factory for the Pope and Esther Blanchett. The Factory, more commonly referred to as the "Ghetto" by its residents, was located far below the surface of Londinium. The Pope and Sister Blanchett learned that the Lost Technology in Albion was manufactured by a group of Methuselah, all of whom lived and worked underground without the public's knowledge. However, clique of vampires opposed the Albion government's refusal to let the Methuselah leave the Ghetto. With the Pope in the Ghetto, the rebellious vampires made an attempt to abduct Alessandro XVIII, believing that Albion would finally give into their demands in exchange for the Vatican head of state.[18]

Coronation

Pope Alessandro XVIII presided over the coronation of Queen Esther.

The Pope's abduction created a major international crisis that threatened the future of diplomatic relations between Albion and the Vatican. With the Pope trapped in the Ghetto, the AX and the Department of Inquisition were tasked with the responsibility of rescuing Alessandro XVIII. Despite their longstanding rivalry, the Inquisitors and the AX were forced to cooperate with each other in order to save the leader of the Catholic Church. By the time Brother Petros Orsini located the Pope, Alessandro came to sympathize with the situation of the Methuselah who essentially lived as indentured servants of Albion. Though initially reluctant to spare the life of Vanessa Walsh, Virgil's twin sister and the leader of the rebellious movement in the Ghetto, Orsini granted her mercy at the Pope's behest. As a sign of gratitude, Vanessa aided Orsini in protecting the Pope from a team of Rosencreutz assassins that had infiltrated the Ghetto.[21] Upon the Pope's safe return to the surface, the Battle of Londinium commenced with the Rosencreutz Orden's surprise attack on the Albion capital. Albion and the Vatican united their forces to defend Londinium against a powerful Rosencreutz airship. With the aid of the Ghetto, the allies pinpointed a weakness in the airship, exploited it and destroyed the airship.[19]

In the aftermath of the Battle of Londinium, Esther Blanchett—a secret granddaughter of the late Bridget II—became the official successor to the Albion throne. Blanchett's coronation was officiated by the Pope in Londinium, where he blessed and crowned the new Queen of Albion. Standing together before a jubilant crowd, Pope Alessandro XVIII and Queen Esther prayed for a better world in which Terrans and the Methuselah coexisted in peace.[19]

Geography[]

Vatican Map

The Vatican controlled the Italian peninsula and the former Yugoslavia.

The Vatican is located in the southern and southeastern regions of Europe. To the north, the Vatican borders the Kingdom of Franc, the Kingdom of Germanicus, and the Marquisate of Hungaria. To the south, it consists entirely of the Italian Peninsula and the three Mediterranean islands of Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica. To the southeast, where the Vatican controls parts of the former Yugoslavia along the Adriatic Sea, it borders the Marquisate of Macedonia.

By the mid-31st century AD, the domain of the Vatican covered the area occupied by the following pre-Armageddon countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland, Vatican City and parts of France.

Government[]

The Vatican government has a unique structure with influences from absolute monarchy, elective monarchy and theocracy. The Pope is the sovereign of the state. Although the Pope holds the highest legal authority in the Vatican, his ability to control the government is entirely dependent on his character. In the case of a weak-willed sovereign, the College of Cardinals wields considerable influence and power as the Vatican's de facto leaders. Despite the influence of the cardinals, they cannot legally overrule the authority of the Pope. They must therefore seek the Pope's approval before making certain decisions—such as military action—that involve the state.[3]

Papal throne room

The papal throne room was located in the heart of the San Pietro Cathedral.

Although the Pope is technically an elective office—its succession decided by a papal conclave held after the death of the incumbent Pope—since at least the 31st century AD the papacy has become a virtual dynasty as a result of the hereditary succession of Gregorio XXX and his illegitimate son, Alessandro XVIII.[22] In addition to at least two Popes, there are several members of the current "papal family" that occupy positions of power in the Vatican. Alessandro's half-siblings, Francesco di Medici and Caterina Sforza, are both cardinals and the closest advisers of their young half-brother.[3] Alfonso d'Este, brother of Gregorio XXX, was a former candidate for the papacy and the archbishop of Cologne[22] until he betrayed the Church.[23][24]

The Concistoro is the highest decision-making body in the Vatican, and therefore the legislative branch of the Vatican government. Composed of high-ranking members of the Catholic clergy, the Concistoro is also responsible for making final decisions on whether to investigate clerics suspected of corrupt practices. The majority of its membership consists of older, higher-ranking clergymen, who regard Cardinal Medici and his supporters as dangerous extremists. As a result, they consistently support Cardinal Sforza in order to limit Medici's influence in Vatican politics.[4]

As the de facto leaders of the Vatican, Medici and Sforza are directly responsible for the administration of the Vatican when the Pope is absent from the capital. In cases such as captivity where the Pope is no longer able to competently exercise the powers of his office, the College can assume direct leadership of the Vatican until the Pope is either rescued or killed.[18]

Ministries[]

Notable Members[]

Military[]

"The Vatican military is the strongest force in the world."
Schtindle[src]
Department of Inquisition in novel

A force of holy warriors, known as Inquisitors, dedicated their lives to the Vatican.

The Vatican Military is responsible for the defense and security of the territories controlled by the Vatican. It is composed of several different branches, including the Army, Air Force, and Special Forces.

The Military is not completely separate from the political organization of the Vatican. The Department of Inquisition possesses its own military assets, including soldiers, tanks, and air battleships. The Papal State Affairs Special Operations Section, also known as the AX, consists of priests and nuns who are trained as a special forces group in order to perform unconventional missions for the Vatican. Furthermore, the AX has access to its own battleships, such as the Iron Maiden and the Iron Maiden II.

Vatican Army[]

Vatican Air Force[]

  • Akrasiel, battleship
  • Jahoel, assault ship
  • Nasargiel, battleship
  • Raguel, battleship
  • Rufael, battleship
  • Sandolphon, patrol ship

List of Notable Soldiers[]

  • Arnold di Cambio; captain, Vatican Air Force
  • Humbert Barbarigo; major general, Justinians
  • Borghese; major general, Constantinus
  • Marc Antonio Vlaski; major, Gold Horn Knights
  • Ettore Berlusconi; officer, Vatican Special Forces
  • Fabio; corporal, Vatican Army
  • Tristan; soldier, Vatican Army

Society[]

Grand Mass

The Grand Mass is a Christian ceremony held in honor of sacred artifacts.

The Vatican is a Terran nation, although there are some Methuselah that secretly live in the Vatican's territory. A strong hostility exists between the two races—bred and nurtured by centuries of conflict. In general, the Vatican views itself as the protector of the human race; the first line of defense against the Methuselah who prey on the Terran people. The Vatican therefore takes upon itself the responsibility of protecting Terrans from the Methuselah, whether they live on Vatican soil or abroad.[3]

In addition to its ethnic identity, the Vatican is also a Christan nation. As with the Vatican's predecessor states, such as the Papal States and Vatican City, ChristianityRoman Catholicism—is the state religion of the modern Vatican. The political and religious institutions of the Vatican are intertwined under the Catholic Church, which is both the government and the state religious body of the Vatican.[3] Due to the significance of Christianity in Vatican society, Christian-based festivals are celebrated in Rome and throughout the Vatican Domain. Its religious festivals include the Combined Mass[23] and the Grand Mass.[10] The Combined Mass is celebrated in Rome where it is presided over by the Pope and the College of Cardinals.[23] The Grand Mass, also attended by the Pope and members of the clergy, is held in honor of the rediscovery of holy relics.[10]

Carnivale

Noted for costumes and masks, Carnival is a festival that traces its origins to ancient times.

Aside from the religious aspects of Vatican society, the Vatican has inherited the traditional festivals that date back to ancient Italy. One such festival is Carnival (Italian: "Carnivale"), a special public event distinguished by a long tradition of people dressing in elaborate costumes and masks. As of the mid-31st century AD, several hundred years after the virtual destruction of the ancient world via Armageddon, the people of Venice still celebrated Carnival.[10]

The activity of gambling exists to some extent in the Vatican. The Casino INRI is a Venice-based facility that accommodates several types of gambling.[10]

Read More[]

Appearances[]

Novels

Anime

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Trinity Blood: Rage Against the Moons - Volume 2: Silent Noise, Chapter 3: Overcount
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Trinity Blood: Rage Against the Moons - Volume 1: From the Empire, Chapter 1: Flight Night
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Trinity Blood Episode 1: Flight Night
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Trinity Blood: Rage Against the Moons - Volume 4: Judgment Day, Chapter 1: Lady Guilty
  5. Trinity Blood: Reborn on the Mars - Volume 3: Empress of the Night, Chapter 3: The Jade Palace
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Wikipedia: Vatican City State
  7. Trinity Blood Episode 3: The Star of Sorrow I. City of Blood
  8. Trinity Blood Canon - Part 2, Chapter 2 Once Upon a Time on The Mars
  9. Trinity Blood Reborn on the Mars Volume 1 - The Star of Sorrow
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Trinity Blood Episode 11: From the Empire
  11. Trinity Blood Episode 12: The Ibelis I. Evening Visitors
  12. Trinity Blood Episode 13: The Ibelis II. Betrayal Blaze
  13. Trinity Blood Episode 14: The Mark of Sinner
  14. Trinity Blood Episode 15: The Night Lords I. The Return of Envoy
  15. Trinity Blood Episode 17: The Night Lords III. The Island of her Darling Children
  16. Trinity Blood Episode 19: The Night Lords V. A Start of Pilgrimage
  17. Trinity Blood Episode 23: The Crown of Thorns I. City in the Mist
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Trinity Blood Episode 20: The Throne of Roses I. Kingdom of the North
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 Trinity Blood Episode 24: The Crown of Thorns II. The Lord of Oath
  20. Note 1: The formal peace treaty between the Vatican and the Empire occurred only in the anime version of Trinity Blood.
  21. Trinity Blood Episode 22: The Throne of Roses II. The Refuge
  22. 22.0 22.1 Trinity Blood Episode 9: Overcount I. The Belfry of Downfall
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 Trinity Blood Episode 10: Overcount II. Lucifer's Choice
  24. Note 2: The novelization erroneously describes Alfonso d'Este as the son of Gregorio XXX.
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