Ecclesiastical Estate
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The Estate of the Church Estatus Ecclesiae
Estatus Pontificis | |
|---|---|
 Flag
 Coat of arms
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| Motto: "Christus Regnat Super Omnia" "Christ Reigns Over All" | |
| Anthem: Tu Es Petrus "Thou art Peter" | |
| Capital and largest city | West Alpana |
| Official languages | Alpanian |
| Recognized languages | Hellian |
| Ethnic groups | Alpanian- 95.3% Hellian- 1.5% Commigrati- 1.1% Kosav-0.4% Nymerian- 0.2% Other- 1.5% |
| Religion | Alpanian Catholic- 97.0% Hellian Catholic- 2.4% Jewish-0.6% |
| Demonym(s) | Pontifical |
| Government | Ecclesiastical Monarchy |
• Pope | Adeodatus XVIII |
• Pontifical Adjucator | Marcus Cardinal Scipus |
| History | |
• Donation of St. Petrus | 375 |
| Population | |
• 1936 estimate | 400,000 |
| Currency | Aureus, Sestertius, Denarius |
| Driving side | left |
The Estate of the Church (Alpanian: Estatus Ecclesiae), known more commonly as the Ecclesiastical Estate (Alpanian: Estatus Ecclesiasticus), is the independent and fully sovereign territory of the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church, located in the world of Verthandi. A small, landlocked power, it is completely surrounded by the Holy Aventine Empire, and shares the same capital as the Empire, the city of Alpana. However, it is fully independent, as the Emperor does not have authority over this portion of territory. Most of the population is located in the city proper, while the surrounding countryside helps to feed and supply the city. The current reigning Pontiff is the elderly Pope Adeodatus XVIII.
Established in 375, Emperor St. Petrus I donated the Western portion of the city of Alpana and the countryside to the west of the city to the Pope, in part for the gratitude at his coronation, but also to give the Church territory of its own to keep its independence and power. Throughout its history, the Papacy has retained strong relations with the Empire, however, there have been many disputes with not a few Emperors or Imperial claimants, and the Estate has seen combat and strife before. However, the Estate has remained sovereign, and currently thrives under the close ties with sympathetic Emperor Pius VII, a loyal ally of Pope Adeodatus.