Holy Catholic Church

= The Catholic Church =
The Holy Catholic Church is one of the religions of The Third Crusade, though it dose not have any faction or division that directly affiliates with it, they still influence the game and factions to this day.
== History ==
At first there was no Church until the Templars created an institution under the Brothers-Chaplain 2013, originally they were composed of clerics with no Pope until 2015. After some time they were recognized as the official Church in game and got their first Pope around 2015
From that time they were considers a faction and even had a seat in the supreme council in the Old TTC.
Following the death of St. Corvus I [11/08/2020], the collage of Cardinals elected Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI. He is well known for reforming the clerical applications and starting the main institution of the Church within Lionhearts. However after only a month of office, a group of Cardinals stabbed him in his back... and he died from his injuries [23/09/2020].
Pope, Gregory VIII was his successor. At the beginning of his office [23/09/2020], he better united and reform the Catholic Church. He founded the Diocese of Jerusalem soon after [30.09/2020], appointing Archbishop SchotlandGuy as overseer. Later in his administration, he called a controversial Crusade in order to defend the Christian territories - more specifically protecting the Knights Hospitallers. 
Documentation declaring the Crusade: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kYjwlh8O2f_vidI7o-u5vUPQfmZo4y5M/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112293318746494441619&rtpof=true&sd=true
However after this point, Pope, Gregory VIII went completely inactive in the Lionhearts community. He disappeared from public life, and many Clergy considered him delusional.
Upon his disappearance a Papal Conclave fell into place. After weeks voting, Pope Innocent III was elected [12/06/3023], and was the first Pope in the new Lionhearts to be elected. This was considered a new Golden era for the Catholic Church. Many new Dioceses were formed, and many new priests Ordained. With his ascension, he elevated namless to Patriarch of Jerusalem. Nearing the end of his reign, he was seen shacking with public... whispers of his inability spread throughout the Vatican and he knew his time had arrived. Soon later, he stood upon the Peter's Balcony and announced his resignation. During his speech, he declared nameless as the next Cardinal and elevated maximusmot to Bishop of Krak. His memory was one of grace and stability in the Catholic Church. 
The Cardinal namless vanished strait after this. Some sources describe how he was kidnapped on the way to Rome, due the the calling of the Fourth Papal Conclave. Other sources state that he left to start protestant Church, and the Inquisition burnt him at the steak. Yet the Vatican is yet to confirm what has happened him him. 
With this, Pope Ignatius III was elected [24/12/2023]. His reign is considered the most divine of all; with new reformations and more activity within the Church. His first act was the rising of father Angelino to the position of Patriarch of Jerusalem and RangersDom to General Vicar [19/02/2023]. Additionally, Triwn45 (King of Jerusalem) became the Defender of the Faith (Fidei Defensor), due to his bravery towards the Christian Faith. 
His most notable action, was the decoration of the Easter Crusade [01/04/2024]. With the Seljuks puppeting Christian nations, fear spread throughout the Holy Land. SBA and Hosp-Sicily along with the Federation send there concerns to the Holy Office. Upon hearing the ples of the east, Pope Ignatius III way obliged by faith to declare a Crusade to protect Christendom itself. For the first time in history, the Holy Orders, followed by KOJ and KOE, united under the banner of the Cross. 
It is at this point, the Holy Roman Empire rejected the legitimacy of this new Crusade, stating that Pontiff himself was the illegitimate successor to St Peter. However, the Papacy was not surprised by this, as Shadowskull5278 was a known Muslim and that the High Ranks of HRE were infiltrated by the Islamic Heretics of the east. During the aftermath of the crusade, the Knights Hospitallers along with the Christian States were victorious. 
Cardinal Namless returned from a self imposed exile and resumed him position in the Catholic Church. 
A couple of months later [29/06.2024], Cardinal Max was placed on the Cannon Trial for aiding the excommunicated Grandmaster Ego. During the Trials, Cardinal Max proved himself innocent of all charges brought against him. As the same time, Patriarch Angilino was elevated to the position of Cardinal Deacon. 
== Dioceses, Archdioceses and Holy Orders ==
* Archdiocese of Jerusalem
* Archdiocese of Krak Des Chevaliers
* Dioceses of Kerak
* Hospitallers of St Thomas of Canterbury
* Order of Saint James of Altopascio 
Category:Faction
Category:Archdiocese of Jerusalem
Category:Archdiocese of Krak Des Chevaliers
Category:Diocese of Kerak
Category:Hospitallers of St Thomas of Canterbury
Category:Order of Saint James of Altopascio