Fox of France

Indeed, the establishment of the Temple of God in North Africa is definitely a generous gift to the Holy See. This can not only greatly increase the prestige of the Holy See, but also bring real income and power.

Throughout Europe, the power of the Holy See has been greatly declining. Not many countries, not to mention big countries like France, Spain, and Austria, even the small countries around the Pope, not many people pay special attention to the Holy See. . According to the Holy See's own experience, in those relatively poorer places, where the pagans have the upper hand, the sheep there are much easier to graze and shear.

"Bishop Leonard, of course, in order to ensure that we can provide assistance to the church's activities in North Africa reasonably and legally, we need the church to grant us the right to defend the church throughout Africa." Lucien said again.

In a slightly distant era, the western colonists set up a few cannons on the eastern coastline. In the era when one can occupy a country, the "protection right" has always been a good reason and excuse used by the great powers to invade other countries.

"If the church encounters heretics in North Africa, or suffers de facto discrimination, or even martyrdom. If there is no authorization from the Holy See, it will be inconvenient for us to provide support and help." Lucien added.

Bishop Leonard naturally understood what the so-called "encountering difficulties from heretics, or being discriminated against in fact, or even being martyred" meant. This sentence must not be understood literally, nor can it be understood that France will protect the reasonable rights of believers in North Africa, but should be understood as: France hopes that the Church will be more active, proactive, and even actively challenge the church in North Africa. Talk about some things, and then France can jump out to defend the right to teach, and by the way, seek more benefits for itself. Of course, this is entirely incidental.

For example, according to the agreement reached between France and Turkey, the French practice French law in the concession. Moreover, in the Barbary countries, the French also have "consular jurisdiction". As long as France has the "right to apologist", then the missionaries who go to the local missionaries, although not from the French Church (the French Church's set of things, are far inferior to paralyzing the people, especially those who are ignorant enough) The original Catholic) people, but they can be regarded as French people, and of course they will be protected by the French "consular jurisdiction".

According to the agreement between France and Turkey, missionaries were not allowed to leave the concession and enter the interior of the Barbary countries to preach. Such behavior would be considered a crime. However, also according to this agreement, if French missionaries enter the interior of the Barbary countries to preach, then according to consular jurisdiction, Turkey can only hand them over to the French consulate for punishment. The French consul could have acquitted them. Therefore, the missionaries of the church can do whatever they want regardless of any prohibitions in Turkey.

Of course, areas that believe in paganism are very barbaric, especially the Barbary area, a place that specializes in pirates. Naturally, the folk customs are even more fierce. If you don't say a few words, you may be about to find a machete. Therefore, if you go deep into a pagan area to preach, you will probably be beheaded by those barbaric pagans. Just like the South Koreans of later generations went to Afghanistan to preach.

However, "Why is this not a blessing?" To put it more clearly, isn't this exactly what France and the church need? No matter what crimes the French missionaries committed, pagans can’t just kill them casually. When something like this happens, the French government can naturally stand up for justice and demand that the Turkish authorities severely punish the murderer and make compensation. In this way, the local rights are further expanded, and the church follows behind, so it can naturally get a share of the pie. And even the missionary who made a great sacrifice can be canonized by the Holy See, and after his death, he will receive great glory in the kingdom of heaven. You see what a beautiful thing it is - for whomever it is.

Of course, if you feel that it takes a lot of money for the church to train a formal missionary, and it is a bit of a waste, you can also find a newly liberated Christian in North Africa and ask him to swear allegiance to France. Then tell him, "After you die, I will support your wife by myself, so don't worry about it." Then, even the cost can be further reduced.

Of course, the Turks will definitely be dissatisfied with this. But today is different. When King François I and Suleiman the Great signed the famous "Sacrilege Alliance", France was trembling under the siege of the Habsburgs and the English, so it urgently needed help from Turkey.

In 1544, Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, invaded France with his army and fought all the way to Paris. At this time, the Turkish army launched an attack on Hungary, pointing directly at Vienna, eventually forcing Charles V to retreat and make peace. So at that time, France really needed a powerful pagan ally like Turkey.

During the period of the Great Revolution, France was blocked by almost the whole of Europe, and many of the strategic materials he needed had to be obtained from Turkey. So this pagan ally is still valuable.

But now, the whole of Europe has almost surrendered at the feet of France, and the importance of Turkey, an ally, has greatly declined. If in the past, when the French looked at the Turks, they thought they were partners sharing food with them at the table, but now, in the eyes of the French, Turkey has become more and more like food itself. It is already very polite that the French did not go directly to Istanbul to ask for mining, road construction and church building. (Of course, even in Istanbul, the French have extraterritorial rights. This was obtained when King François I.)

Besides, in North Africa, considering the interests of France, it is directly ruled by the French. If it is not done well, it will fall into the quagmire of religious conflicts. So it is relatively cheaper to rule by the Turks. However, the Turks must not be allowed to really win the hearts of the people in North Africa and gain a foothold. Therefore, the Turks must be unpopular, and the Turks must be in conflict with the local heretics. In this way, if the Turks want to maintain their local rule, they have to rely on the power of France, and the only way to go is to honestly serve the French as puppets. It's as if in another time and space, I could only honestly be the general agent of the Western powers in the late Qing Dynasty, and even in the period of a certain Qiangu Perfection.

On the other hand, as long as the Holy See joins this plan, it will tie itself to the French chariot. From then on, the Holy See, or the Catholic Church, will become the vanguard of French colonial activities.

Of course, this is not a bad thing for the Holy See. This shows that the Holy See is still very valuable. If it is valuable, it will be useful, and if it is useful, it will have status. So the Holy See can further embrace France's thigh. Although the French father will inevitably bully the Holy See sometimes, but by hugging the French father's thigh, he can bully many, many people. This is really - is there anything better in the world?

But the necessary bargaining is still necessary. So Bishop Leonard thought for a while and said: "Dear Minister Bonaparte, it is the responsibility and honor of any shepherd to find the lamb for God. However, we also need to know more about preaching in areas where heretics are rampant. information, including what kind of support we can get, including what steps we can take, and I believe you also know that because of our temporary problems with Austria, we have some small financial problems now, which makes us The ability to act has also declined, so we also hope to get the understanding and help of our French friends..."

Then came more intense bargaining. Although both parties have the sincerity of cooperation, it is precisely because of this that the debate intensifies. The Holy See keeps crying for poverty, hoping that the French can provide more economic and convenient assistance, and give them more economic benefits in North Africa.

But also because everyone actually has great sincerity, so everyone finally reached an agreement. France obtained the apologist rights throughout Africa; and the Vatican obtained a new diocese in the future, as well as the right to build churches in this diocese, spread religion, and collect tithes.

The two parties also agreed that in North Africa in the future, any actions of the Holy See that may bring about political influence need to be discussed with the representative of the French government, that is, the local consul in advance, and the understanding of the French consul must be obtained.

In addition, in the North African diocese, the three banks designated by the Holy See will have the same rights as the French banks. They will all be regarded as French banks in this region, and they will be able to conduct business activities on an equal basis and receive the same rights from the French government. Protect.

When the Holy See made this request, Lucien said at the time: "You still say you have no money? What's going on with these banks? Isn't this your money? You obviously have money!"

Bishop Leonard retorted: "The bank's money, how can it be our money? It is all depositors' money, and we are just operating it on our behalf. Moreover, because of Austria, our bank urgently needs to be able to make money. good project."

"This is impossible." Lucien said immediately, "This involves not only money, but also business competition. We are worried that your bank will maliciously lower interest rates, and as a result, everyone can earn less money! "

Leonard naturally stated that the Vatican's bank would never do the kind of thing that makes people despise oneself and despise the industry. He guaranteed that the Vatican's bank would never offer interest rates different from those of the Bank of France, nor would it provide any disguised low interest rates. . But Lucien insisted that the Holy See is the most deceitful, and we can't believe your promises. After some final haggling, it was finally decided that a common banking union would be established to oversee the matter.

So far, the negotiation between the two parties has been a complete success.