VIII explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Power and Corruption

  Hadrian's renunciation of temporal power challenges the traditional association of Church success with temporalities, while Ragna's faction plots an Oecumenical Council to depose Him, revealing corrupt intrigues.

• Identity and Self-Perception

  Hadrian engages in self-analysis, questioning His understanding of love and His own character, and remains psychically detached, uninterested in the impression He creates.

• Religion and Hypocrisy

  Hadrian is accused of hypocrisy by His enemies, who label His private acts criminal and His personality aggressive, while He Himself sneers at His reflection as a 'beastly hypocrite.'

Characters to notice

• Hadrian VII

  Engages in self-analytical games, summons cardinals to discuss renouncing temporal power, displays wit and autocratic dogmatism, remains psychically detached, and confronts Ragna's implied threat of an Oecumenical Council.

• Cardinal Gentilotto

  Gently remarks that if His Holiness states a case, they will do their best to help Him.

• Fiamma

  Asks Hadrian for reasons behind the renunciation of temporal power.

• Cardinal Sterling

  States that one's hands obey one's head, supporting Hadrian's decision.

• George Semphill

  Asserts that if the temporal power is worth having, it is worth fighting for, citing General Lord Ralph Kerrison's offer to enlist in the pontifical army.

• Cardinal Mundo

  Inquires with big eyes about Semphill's claim.

• Cardinal Talacryn

  Annoyed by Hadrian's sarcastic query, and later arraigns Hadrian on the question of superstition.

• Cardinal della Volta

  Ventures that His Holiness leans on the theory that the Church was never more powerful than now.

• Mariano Ragna

  Leads a circle that loathes Hadrian, spreads talk of vile pontifical acts and criminal private ones, and plots an Oecumenical Council to denounce Hadrian as pseudopontiff and heretic.

• Percy Van Kristen

  Receives diaconate from Hadrian on the Celian Hill, later named Cardinal-deacon of St. Kyriak-at-the-Baths-of-Diocletian, admired for his stately shyness.

• Cardinal Berstein

  Sneers at the fylfot crosses on Hadrian's stole as a Buddhist emblem, and mutters about divination and necromancy.

• Cardinal Carvale

  Ejaculates about the newspapers when Whitehead mentions them.

• Cardinal Whitehead

  Asks Leighton what newcomers know of Italy, referencing newspapers.

• Cardinal Leighton

  Makes the remark about newspapers that Carvale reacts to.

Key passages

• “The key to all your difficulties, present and to come, is Love.”

  Love is the solution to all problems, both now and in the future.

  Hadrian recalls this aphorism from a memorable confession, reflecting on his own understanding of love.

• “He designated the renunciation of the temporal power; and struck them dumb.”

  He proposed giving up the temporal power, which left the cardinals speechless.

  Hadrian's announcement of renouncing temporal power shocks the cardinals.

• “He was accused of an anarchistical kind of enthusiasm.”

  He was charged with having a disruptive, anarchic zeal.

  Ragna's circle criticizes Hadrian's enthusiasm as anarchical.

• “The Pope by some accident turned His gaze to Ragna: he had such an aspect as caused His Holiness to look more intently.”

  The Pope happened to look at Ragna, whose expression made Him look more closely.

  Hadrian notices Ragna's defiant demeanor during the consistory.

• “That generally is done by oblique-eyed cardinals who cannot accustom themselves to new pontiffs.”

  That is usually done by envious cardinals who cannot get used to a new pope.

  Hadrian dismisses the idea of an Oecumenical Council as a tactic of envious cardinals.