Pope Julius IV

Pope Julius IV
Church	Fabrian Catholic Church
Papacy began	15 March 2015
Predecessor	Pope John XII
Orders
Ordination	10 October 1964 by Achille Silvestrini
Consecration	29 June 1979 by Péter Erdő
Created cardinal	4 March 2001 by Benedict XII
Personal details
Birth name	Claudio Atillio Ciano
Born	December 17, 1936 (age 77)
Nationality	Rodarian
Denomination	Fabrian Catholic
Previous post	Auxiliary Bishop of Fiori (1992–1997) Titular Bishop of Agrigata Brianza (1992–1997) Archbishop of Adrano (1995–2014) Cardinal-Priest of San Vittore su Giove(2001–2014) Dean of the College of Cardinals (2011-2014)
Motto	Genuflectant omnes in plano (All kneel equal at the same level).
Coat of arms

Pope Julius IV born as Claudio Atillio Ciano; (born December 17, 1936, aged 77) is the 265th Pope of the Fabrian Catholic Church, a position also holding the roles of Sovereign of the Ecclesiastical State and the Bishop of Fabria.

Born in Fabria, Ciano spent the first 15 years of his life working on his family's farm outside Erba, being denied proper schooling, Ciano would not become fully literate until he was 18 when he began his seminary studies. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1964 and from 1979-1985. He became the Archbishop of Adrano in 1995 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John XII.

Following the death of Pope John XII on 9 March 2015, a papal conclave elected Ciano as his successor on 15 March. He chose Julius as his papal name in honor of Pope Julius III (1940-1952). Julius is the third youngest Pope to be elected at the age of 77 and the 109th from Fabria.

Throughout his public life, both as an individual and as a religious leader, Pope Julius has been noted for his humility, his concern for the poor, sick, elderly and the lonely and his commitment to returning the Christian faithful back to abiding by virtue and principles of the Church. However his humble nature has been viewed as populist with previous comments made against the Fabrian aristocratic families which dominate the Magisterium and the Church. He is known for having a simpler and less formal approach to the papacy, most notably by choosing to reside in a bare room of the Apostolic Palace. Due to both his Ignatian aesthetic, he is known for favoring simpler vestments void of ornamentation by starting to refuse the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election choosing silver instead of gold for his piscatorial ring and keeping the same pectoral cross he had when he was cardinal.

The Pontiff has affirmed Catholic doctrine on abortion, artificial contraception, and homosexuality. He has been a fierce critic of what he terms "deviancy among the high", criticising the monarchs of Belisaria for engaging in sin without accountability. As a Cardinal he rejected the term Agnostic, saying "either you've found the love of Christ or not, there is no in between, I wished it was so for all those who are uncertain, but I pray soon they shall find god eventually." In 2012, as Cardinal he rejected calls for the Ecclesiastical State to reform its economy to a consumer-based system, as he believed, the most deprived in the Ecclesiastical State would be confined to perpetual poverty, as the current system is producing enough jobs to satisfy needs of the labour force, he also claimed that the current system greatly aided the deprived but could structured to improve their living standards through wage increases. He is also a fierce advocate for greater Papal influence over Christendom, going as far as to protect the thinking of Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus, saying in 2016 that "there is no salvation outside of the Church, the universal church, the church founded by Saint Peter. There is no salvation outside the Catholic Church and never will be".

Outside the Ecclesiastical State, he urged the Catholic Church across Belisaria to speak out against adoption by same-sex couples, maintained that divorced and re-married Catholics may not receive the Eucharist, and vowed to excommunicate any Catholic priest for Eucharistic sacrilege and heretical views. Furthermore, he emphasized the Christian obligation to assist the poor and the needy in an optimistic tone, as well as promoting the idea that monarchs and nobles should be held accountable for their sins like lower classes. Pope Julius the day after being elected has also announced a zero-tolerance policy towards sex abuse in the Church, saying that sex abuse is "the invitation of Satan into the Church" and heralded the efforts of his predecessor in fighting the crisis.

Personal life

Claudio Atillio Ciano was born in Fabria. He was the eldest of six children of Floriano Ciano and Francesca Ciano (neè Ziani). The family lived on a lemon farm, 4km south of the capital, in what Ciano described as 'a small piece of Eden on earth'. His family moved to Erba when he was 15 after the farm became bankrupt. His mother died in 2001 at the age of 100, his has no surviving siblings. He has also spoken of the immense poverty that his family suffered, saying in 2014, "in our financial struggles we found thanks and comfort in God."

Ciano's education was greatly hampered by his obligations on his family's farm, between the ages of 4 and 15, he would spend three out of five school days working on the farm. In 1940s Fabria, this was acceptable due to the largely agrarian based economy and society. Due to this, Ciano would remain illiterate until he reached 18, when he was taught how to read at seminary school.

In the only known health crisis of his youth, at the age of 19 he suffered from life-threatening pneumonia and three cysts. He had part of a lung excised shortly afterwards. Ciano has stated that despite his fit youth and his father's obsession with football, he has never taken to sport, except for tennis, when he joined his local Church's tennis club. Ciano is also a fan of thriller films, which he joked in saying "my fondness for horror and thrillers comes the adrenaline rush life of the Priesthood" In 2013 he admitted that he has a strong fondness for Opera music, his favourite being Luciani's "Pioggia Ferro".

Ciano has a pet greyhound named Silvio after his neighbor, who Ciano claimed, "could always outrun a greyhound, despite being 60 years old." The greyhound lives with Ciano at the Vatican and brings him along when meeting world leaders or local politicians.

Pre-papal career

Priest

Ciano studied at the archdiocesan seminary, Immacolata Concezione Seminary, in the San Michele Arcangelo district of Fabria, and, after three years, was ordained a priest on 11 March 1964. He was appointed to the diocese of central Erba, at the church of San Augusto, Ciano stated that on average he had 188 parishioners on Sunday for the 28 years he served the diocese. In 2010, he admitted that he had a crush on one of his parishioners daughters, whom helped him clean the Church, the crush was so strong he claimed he was tempted to leave the Church and propose to her, but decided not to after discussing the matter with his mother.

In 1960, Ciano obtained a licentiate in philosophy from the Fabrian San Tommaso Apostolo University. He taught Religious State Morality at the Collegio dell'Annunciazione, a high school in Fabria, from 1964 to 1965. In 1966 he taught the same courses at the Collegio di San Paolo in Adrano.

In 1964, Ciano finished his theological studies and was ordained to the priesthood on 13 December 1969, by Archbishop Achille Silvestrini. He began teaching State Morality to students at the Pontifical University of Fabria, the course according to some critics outside the Ecclesiastical State, is nothing more than indoctrination into accepting the Catholic Church's rule over Fabria. He would teach there until 1979, when he was appointed Officer Superior of the Popular Congregation of Fabria, by the Archbishop Silvestrini. Under his leadership, the PCF began conducting large scale social programmes, including the repair of homes owned by elderly citizens, with materials covered by the PCF and donators. The PCF also traveled the rural farmland surrounding Fabria, running mobile libraries for children and their parents. It was during his work with the Popular Congregation that he gained influences from Dominican Monks, especially in regards to frugality and the dangers of decadence.

Papacy

Elected at the age of 76, Julius was reported to be healthy, despite his many years of smoking. He suffered a chest infection in January 2016, which caused him to miss several key events and meetings of the new year, including the first meeting with Under-Secretary of State Giacomo Amato, however he was briefed on meeting by his representative Cardinal Giorgio Turani.

Julius is the third Pope to be elected with a background with the Popular Congregations.

As pope, his manner is less formal than that of his predecessors: a style that news coverage has referred to as "no frills," noting that it is "his common touch and accessibility that is proving the greatest inspiration." For example, he chose to have the Pope's apartment in the Apostolic Palace emptied of lavish ornaments and rendered completely bare. On the night of his election, he took the bus back to his hotel with the cardinals, rather than be driven in the papal car. The next day, he visited Cardinal Proculus Cassius Fabula in the hospital and chatted with patients and staff. At his first media audience, the Friday after his election, the Pope said "The man who values peace is the poor man, how much I would like a poor church, run by poor men for poor men."

In addition to his native Fabrian, Julius is also conversant in Latin (the official language of the Holy See), speaks fluent XX and basic XX.

Temporal leadership

Upon assuming the office of the Pontiff, Pope Julius immediately revealed his populist attitudes. From the beginning he regularly opposed economic reform towards a consumer-based system over Dirigisme, three days after becoming Pope, Julius said in a national televised address that he would oppose economic reform on the basis that "millions of us are still poor and destitute, of course I will not reject the merits of reform, but I will oppose it until all citizens of this country are sufficiently safe from destitution and poverty". Since becoming Pope, Julius has also made numerous criticisms of capitalism, arguing that it has destroyed mankind's "spirit for harmony and charity", in an address to students in late 2015, the Pope said that capitalism since the 19th century had resulted in the "pursuit of personal contentment, whilst putting the affairs of the less well off and the vulnerable into the shadows, away from the open eye".

Julius has been recognised as more charismatic than his predecessor and swiftly consolidated his power in the Vatican, conducting what is publicly known as the Night of Torn Cassocks, in which he purged the entire Magisterium of his predecessors appointments and replaced them with Cardinals and officials who share his mixture of religious-populist and ultra-conservative ideals. Unlike most Popes previous, Julius believes in presenting the Church as a united body alongside focusing public adoration upon the Pope alone and influenced state owned and pro-state media to begin promoting Fabrian Cardinals. Within the Church itself both in temporal and religious terms, Pope Julius has pressured Cardinals to operate on a frugal basis in line with the Pope's Franciscan leanings, although bodies outside the Ecclesiastical State have noted a rise in Cardinals enriching themselves, in fact in July 2016, Pope Julius and four other Cardinals became the owners of Inter Fabria, the country's leading football team.

Power of the Church

Pope Julius caused confusion among many commentators in Belisaria, many viewed Julius as a possible moderate who would reduce the authoritarian nature of the Ecclesiastical state, however many came to argue the opposite by 2016 as Julius took a radical approach, in that highly publicised reforms that appeared to reduce state repression was swiftly followed by reforms that either empowered the Church further and strengthened the regime's system, usually with little to no media attention. Pope Julius has defended the power of the Supreme Consistory and defended the near-complete absence of democracy, saying that "it is the case that people entrust their spiritual futures upon the Church, it is more than acceptable for them do so in the temporal matters of the world."

In a speech to business people in January 2016, the Pope said "talk of reform and alteration to the constitution and to the system of governance in this country cannot be accepted as a possibility. Why alter, why change, why reform a system that has brought peace and stability to a land of over a hundred million souls since the 19th century? To talk of reforming an unbroken system is to demand its destruction".

The Pope's opposition to reform of the state caused backlash against him internationally, but domestically his charisma and populist manner only reaffirmed public support for the regime according to independent polls. In November 2015, the Pope stated that the Church, within the government system was a natural "neutral guide for people and public office alike. Whilst we work for the benefit f of our state, we also ensure that our actions preserve our sacred constitution and benefit the people. We of course also provide the public officials with moral guidance, to ensure their policies and intentions are in line with our Christian faith and values".

Economy

Pope Julius’ views of economics has been rooted in his political populism, insofar that the economy, much like individuals should do all possible to aid the needy and grant them dignity in life by ensuring their escape from poverty. Many consider his Papacy’s economic view to incorporate elements of Distributism and populism.

When he was elected Pope, Julius pledged to “radically alter our view of economics and wealth, to ensure that we all see it to improve all lives, and not a means to enrich the self.”

Although he was a key supporter of strong anti-trust laws when he was a Cardinal, upon his election he failed to prosecute plans to expand them, permitting the continued dominance of the Dodici families’ corporations and those directly tied to the Church (the Cattedrali di Denaro).

However, within weeks of him being elected, the Pope announced the introduction of workers on company executive boards, followed by announcements of extra tarrifs on food imports, to protect the Ecclesiastical State’s farmers.

Julius in 2016 slashed personal property taxes and reduced utility rates. His repeal of the poll tax in February 2016 vastly increased his popularity. Julius' popular homestead exemption eliminated personal property taxes for the poorest of citizens by exempting properties valued at less than $2,000. His "Debt Moratorium Act" of November 2016, prevented foreclosures by giving people extra time to pay creditors and reclaim property without being forced to pay back-taxes.

Social policies

In May 2015, two months after becoming Pope, Julius signed a Sacrae Dicto (Sacred Declaration; a decree), known as the “Misericordia et Miserationes Tributum” (Compassion and Mercy Tribute) a new tax that would be used to fund Church social organisations. The MMT would fund Church homeless shelters, soup kitchens and the so called Rehabilitation Residences, in which the homeless would be granted a bed and access to apprenticeships and counseling in order to assist them in rebuilding their lives.

By January 2017, the MMT had increased funding for the services by 65% and led to the creation of 186 new Rehabilitation Residences, assisting around 15,000 people.

In July the same year, he issued the Sacrae Dicto known as the “Popularem Causam”, which aimed to see greater public involvement in the Popular Congregations’ work. The Popularem Causam requested work places organise staff events that would aid the elderly and sick, with focus being on house repairs and visiting the lonely. Over 1.8 million signed up to the Popularem Causam by the end of 2016.

In 2016 he requested that the Supreme Consistory introduce new legislation aimed at combating drug abuse more harshly, citing scripture Pope Julius denounced drug addicts as “slaves to addiction, placing their addiction above their love for God”. The government soon introduced harsher sentences for drug offenders, including corporal punishment for traffickers and dealers.

Foreign policies

Global papal influence

Pope Julius has been a consistent advocate for greater Papal influence across the globe, arguing that “the Catholic Church has a unique voice to offer on social, spiritual and political matters, for all are interconnected in they affect the path of Man towards salvation”.

As such Pope Julius has become more vocal in the domestic affairs of Catholic countries, such as Latium and Tericio. In a speech to Cardinals in October 2016, the Pope said “we must not be tepid in our approach to Christian nations, we must be frank and honest, they will appreciate it, they must, who does not wish to hear the thoughts of the Holy Mother Church”.

Pope Julius and the Fabrian Magisterium have urged dioceses across the world to become more engaged politically and more engaged with their localities. A close ally of the Pope, Cardinal Gaio Marcio Rutilo explained that the Papacy aims to “transform the Church’s voice into a global force for change”.

Following his election as Pontiff, Julius appointed Cardinal Marco Furio Camillo as his Cardinal Secretary of State. Cardinal Camillo is renown for arguing that the Papacy should aim to gain influence over Catholic monarchies to “steer them towards piety and righteousness over sin and decadence”.

Public image

File:JuliusI.jpg

Pope Julius is known for random drives through central Fabria, to "talk to the faithful is to talk to God" he said when questioned why he does it, considering the security concerns.

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Distinctions

Styles of Pope Julius
Reference style	His Holiness
Spoken style	Your Holiness
Religious style	Holy Father

Titles and styles

The official style of the Pope in English is His Holiness Pope Julius; in Latin, Julius, Episcopus Fabriae. Holy Father is another honorific often used for popes.

His full title, rarely used, is:

His Holiness Julius, Bishop of Fabria, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of the Ecclesiastical State, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Fabrian Province, Sovereign of the Ecclesiastical State, Supreme Secretary of the Magisterium, Supreme Secretary of the Blessed Consistory, Servant of the servants of God.

The best-known title, that of "Pope", does not appear in the official list of titles, but is commonly used in the titles of documents, and appears, in abbreviated form, in their signatures as "PP." standing for Papa (Pope).

It is customary when referring to popes to translate the regnal name into local languages. Thus he is Papa Julius in Latin (the official language of the Holy See and Magisterium), Papa Guilio in Fabrian (the language of the Ecclesiastical State), and Pope Julius in English.

Coat of Arms

Coat of arms

Notes

Helm: Papal mitre Escutcheon: Azure on a Sun in Splendour Or the IHS Christogram ensigned with a Cross Paté fiché piercing the H Gules all above three Nails fanwise points to centre Sable, and in dexter base a Mullet of eight points and in sinister base a Castle tower. Other elements: Keys of Peter behind HH's shield and Papal mantling. Symbolism: (On the shield) Jesuit emblem: In reference to Julius being a Jesuit, the uppermost charge on the shield is the emblem of the Society of Jesus. This charge displays a radiating sun within which is the monogram of the Holy Name of Jesus in red, with a red cross surmounting the H and three black nails below the H. Eight-pointed star: a long-standing symbol of the Virgin Mary. Castle tower: in reference to his dedication of the Church to being a safe haven and sanctuary to the masses.