James II

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Godric Virosi "High Pontiff" Born: x Death: 1802 ((Player)): VIROS

Godric Virosi, more popularly known as James II, is a former High Pontiff of the Holy Canonist Church. He is known for his ardent management of the Lendian heresy crisis, the foundation of the Holy State of Vuillermoz and his promotion of young firebrands to Bishoprics and the office of Cardinal.

Leadership style

Godric's long reign as High Pontiff brought him at the forefront of a series of diplomatic, political and military crisis' where the Church played a central role. In these situations, he constantly chose to maintain a consensus and cohesive unity internally: silencing, reshuffling or firing dangers to the organizational harmony while simultaneously being meek in the giving of second chances and trusting new talent. Despite the variety of issues pertaining to public critiques from former Cardinal Bram and Boniface, as much as active lobbying from both The Purple Lobby in Albarosa and the Government of Hanseti-Ruska: Godric kept the office of the High Pontiff as neutral and stable as realistically possible within his situation. Placating the Albarosians, the Haeseni and the Imperial apparatus simultaneously while not weakening Church authority in any significant way. At the start of his reign, Godric pushed several controversial reforms such as terminating celibacy among priests and the payment of Tithes to local dioceses. Despite the initial public backlash: these reforms proved successful, establishing a global structure for income and a significant decrease in vacancies throughout the organization. His selection for candidates to dioceses and the septarchy proved to be highly political, with Godric being an avid applier of geopolitical- and human resources strategies. Throughout his reign, the vacancies were filled with balancing presences. If those that were Kaedrin-aligned had the upper hand: a Haeseni candidate was chosen to balance their influence, and vice versa. He famously appointed Vice-Chancellor Hugo Wright as a cardinal to show goodwill to His Imperial Majesty, and was embroiled in a nepotism scandal regarding Laurence August Pruvia.

The Crown v. Károly

The diplomatic Godric was cast into his greatest challenge he had faced yet: placing him at odds with the Holy Orenian Empire who persecuted Bishop Krisztián Károly of Ves for treason and attempted murder. The Bishop was accused of being the mastermind behind 'The Young Canonists of Oren', a highly authoritarian and conservative organization responsible for the 'Absolutist critiques'. He furthermore was accused of lynching an elf in the Barbershop in Helena. Godric adamantly stood behind his Bishop, infamously entering into an argument before the Bastille with the Secretary of War and His Imperial Majesty. Even though he demanded the dropping of all charges under the threat of moving the Holy See to New Reza, exhaustive diplomatic efforts from the Empire and the establishment of Oren's biggest legal team to date calmed Godric sufficiently to back down on his threats: allowing for the trial to proceed. After Krisztián was acquitted from all charges, he promoted him to become the Cardinal of Ves: making him the seventh cardinal after the demotion of former Bishop Boniface. Since then, he restored the relationship with the Empire and reformed the rules regarding the political accountability of clergymen in the Empire.

Death

His Holiness died in 1802 as the longest reigning Pontiff to date.