# III explained — Hadrian the Seventh

> Chapter companion for Hadrian the Seventh by Frederick Rolfe.

## What happens

Hadrian the Seventh is proclaimed Pope and insists on opening the outer balcony of St. Peter's to bless the city and the world, defying the College of Cardinals who prefer the inner balcony. The window, bricked up since 1870, is forced open amid tension, and Hadrian gives the Apostolic Benediction.

## Themes in this chapter

### Power and Corruption

Hadrian asserts his authority against the College of Cardinals, demonstrating the tension between papal power and institutional inertia.

### Identity and Self-Perception

Hadrian's insistence on blessing from the outer balcony reflects his self-conception as a pope for the world, not just the church.

### Religion and Hypocrisy

The cardinals' concern for tradition and decorum contrasts with Hadrian's direct, uncompromising faith.

## Character check-ins

### Hadrian VII

Newly elected Pope, insists on opening the outer balcony to bless the city and the world, showing inflexible resolve.

### Mariano Ragna

Snarls and bursts out of the phalanx, opposing Hadrian's decision to open the outer balcony.

### Luigi Orezzo

Secretly enchanted by Hadrian's defiance of Pope Leo's memory, but shocked at blessing the city under Piedmontese rule.

### Cardinal Macca

Bears the triple cross and is detained by Hadrian during the opening of the window.

### Bishop of Caerleon

Observes Hadrian's cruelly dispassionate inflexibility and congregates with the compromissaries.

### Cardinal Berstein

Squawks and expectorates in protest; Hadrian marks him.

### Prince Clenalotti

Leads a stampede toward the outer balcony when rumors spread that it is being opened.

### Flavio

Referenced as the source of Hadrian's stubborn persistence (the cat and door anecdote).

## Key lines

> I announce to you great joy. We have for a Pope the Lord George of the Roses of England, Who has imposed upon Himself the name of Hadrian the Seventh.

The Cardinal-Archdeacon proclaims the election of George Arthur Rose as Pope Hadrian VII.

_Official announcement of the new pope to the crowd._

> Begin as you mean to go on.

Hadrian resolves to act consistently from the start of his papacy.

_Hadrian's internal motto guiding his actions._

> Holiness, that window was bricked-up in 1870; and has not been opened since.

Orezzo informs Hadrian that the outer balcony window has been sealed since the fall of the Papal States.

_Historical reference to the loss of temporal power._

> We are not gentle; and We are not to be persuaded by violence.

Hadrian declares he will not be swayed by pressure or force.

_Hadrian's firm stance against the cardinals' opposition._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hadrian_the_seventh_se/chapters/iii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hadrian_the_seventh_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hadrian_the_seventh_se/chapters