Chapter 607: Holy Land (9)
The pope, waking early before dawn, a time when everyone is supposed to be asleep, made his way to the church's confessional.
Those who know his actions would say that he cannot overlook even the smallest of sins, but the truth is a bit different. It is not that Cardinal Cesare doesn't repent.
He always considers himself a sinner and therefore offers his daily apologies to the heavens.
Though he knows his actions are wrong, he prays, asking that he be sent to hell for the things he must continue doing.
So, what is different?
What is different is what happens after he finishes his repentance.
Cardinal Cesare does not leave the confessional immediately after his repentance.
Instead, he approaches the sacred statue, placing the necklace blessed by the great Lord against it.
He looks directly at his own sins, faces them, and prepares to fall into hell.
"I did not expect to see you like this, Cardinal Cesare."
As the man most aware of his own sins, Cesare could not help but freeze upon seeing the saint's face at the entrance, along with the necklace of the hero hanging from her neck.
The fact that someone with the Lord's divinity was visiting meant that all his sins had been exposed.