# VIII explained — Hadrian the Seventh

> Chapter companion for Hadrian the Seventh by Frederick Rolfe.

## What happens

Hadrian reflects on love and self-analysis, convenes his cardinals in the Vineyard of Leo to discuss renouncing temporal power, faces opposition and intrigue from Ragna's faction, and names Percy Van Kristen as cardinal-deacon, while confronting Ragna's implied threat of an Oecumenical Council.

## 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.'

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

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