Hadrian the Seventh · Chapter
IV explained
Hadrian begins his papacy with decisive action, appointing Cardinal Talacryn and summoning trusted clergy to assist him.
What happens
Hadrian begins his papacy with decisive action, appointing Cardinal Talacryn and summoning trusted clergy to assist him. He questions the Bishop of Caerleon about the circumstances of his election, dictates summonses to five clergymen, and secretly appoints Talacryn a cardinal. He then processes through Rome alone, defying tradition and courting danger, and announces his coronation for the next morning, overriding objections from the Sacred College.
Themes in this chapter
Power and Corruption
Hadrian exercises absolute authority, overriding the Sacred College and reshaping papal traditions to his will.
Isolation and Artistic Struggle
Hadrian walks alone through Rome, disguising his natural timidity, and reflects on his solitary role.
Identity and Self-Perception
Hadrian's manner of speaking and acting reveals his self-awareness and the gap between his inner self and public persona.
Characters to notice
- Hadrian VII
Acts decisively as Pope, dictating summonses, processing alone through Rome, and announcing his coronation.
- Cardinal Talacryn
Bishop of Caerleon, secretly appointed cardinal by Hadrian, serves as a trusted assistant.
- Cardinal Courtleigh
Mentioned as one of the nine Cardinal-Compromissaries who elected Hadrian.
- Cardinal Nefski
Archbishop of Prague, one of the Compromissaries, noted as nearly killed by anarchists.
- Cardinal Gentilotto
Prefect-General of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, one of the Compromissaries.
- Fiamma
Archbishop of Bologna, one of the Compromissaries.
- Cardinal Mundo
Patriarch of Lisbon, led the Compromissaries.
- Cardinal della Volta
Former Majordomo, one of the Compromissaries, noted as Hadrian's double.
Key passages
“We find Ourself surprisingly placed at the head of affairs. We believe that We should not have been placed there unless the service, which We are able to do, had been deemed desirable. Therefore We feel bound to act.”
Hadrian acknowledges his unexpected rise to the papacy and feels compelled to act because he believes his abilities are needed.
Hadrian explains his motivation for taking decisive action to Bishop Talacryn.
“But, though We know (or shall know) what to do, yet We cannot do it with this one pair of hands. We must have assistants with whom we can be intimate, and who themselves can be sympathetic.”
Hadrian admits he cannot accomplish his plans alone and needs trusted, sympathetic assistants.
Hadrian expresses his need for close collaborators to Bishop Talacryn.
“Acting as though the ideal were real, He made it real. If Jews and Freemasons would slay Him, well and good: it was part of the day’s work, no doubt.”
By behaving as if his ideal of a fearless pope were true, Hadrian made it a reality, accepting the risk of assassination as part of his duty.
The narrator describes Hadrian's mindset as he processes alone through Rome.