Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 269 High Walls and Eggs

Lionel followed Father Paul-Émile Fabre into a black carriage.

There seemed to be ice placed on the back of the carriage seats, making the carriage very cool and insulated from the scorching heat of the Roman streets.

The wheels rolled over the ancient cobblestone streets, heading towards the religious sanctuary of Rome.

Father Fabre broke the silence first: "Mr. Sorel, I hope you will keep this meeting a secret and not let outsiders know about it."

Lionel smiled. "Just like your previous encounters with me? In Paris, all sneaky..."

Father Fabre looked embarrassed: "That was so as not to disturb your normal life..."

Lionel pressed on with great interest: "So, what now? Let me cross the Mediterranean to meet this old man."

Father Fabre paused for a moment before speaking: "His Excellency Louis-Antoine-Augustan Gibbon, Archbishop of the Diocese of Paris..."

He seems to have... gone off track, heading further and further down a dangerous path.

Lionel looked surprised: "Archbishop Gibo? Isn't he the 'People's Bishop'?"

His pragmatic approach to education reform has earned him a lot of applause.

How could a mere writer like myself possibly interfere with the future of the Archbishop of Paris?

Father Fabre did not answer, but gave Lionel a deep look, then turned his head to look out the window and said nothing more.

Lionel, sensing the situation, didn't press further and also looked out the window.

The carriage crossed the Ponte Sant'Angelo, passed through the archway guarded by Swiss Guards, and officially entered the territory of the Vatican.

The surroundings fell silent instantly, the streets became empty, and the magnificent religious buildings cast huge shadows, solemn and dignified yet oppressive.

Through the car window, Lionel gazed at the palaces and churches that had taken centuries to build, their ornate Baroque decorations gleaming in the sunlight…

But this is all that the Holy See now possesses—

In 1870, the Kingdom of Italy annexed Rome, and the Pope lost his Papal States, leaving only the Vatican and St. Peter.

The carriage eventually stopped outside an inconspicuous side gate.

Father Fabre led Lionel through several quiet corridors, avoiding the crowds, until they finally arrived at a small and simple prayer room.

There are only a few rows of wooden benches here, and a simple cross on the altar.

Father Fabre said in a low voice, "Please wait a moment," and then quietly withdrew.

The wait was not long.

The door was gently pushed open, and a figure walked in. It was none other than Emperor Liang XIII, who was only in his third year on the throne.

He was nearly seventy years old, very thin, with a slightly hunched posture, wearing a simple white robe, and walking slowly and steadily.

Lionel stood up and gave a slight bow: "Good morning, Your Majesty."

Father Fabre's face darkened, and he was about to say something when Leo XIII smiled kindly and extended his hand, which was adorned with a fisherman's ring.

Lionel did not refuse and leaned down to give the ring a light kiss.

King Liang XIII also gave him a slight helping hand: "Get up, my child. No need for such formalities."

Instead of going to the main seat in front of the altar, he sat down on a bench with Lionel.

Directly opposite the bench was a wooden statue of the Passionate Christ, its compassionate gaze fixed upon them.

King Leo XIII, like an ordinary elder, chatted casually: "What are your impressions of Rome?"

Lionel relaxed a bit and answered truthfully: "A great city, with an arena, a pantheon..."

Of course, there's also St. Peter's Basilica, which is truly breathtaking. I had a great time.

King Liang XIII nodded.

Lionel cleared his throat: "Archbishop Gibo..."

King Liang XIII gently interrupted him: "My child, I have come to see you not for him."

Gibbon...he made his choice, and Rome made its own judgment.

Lionel froze, his prepared words stuck in his throat.

King Leo XIII slowly turned his gaze to the icon: "I am more concerned about you, Lionel Sorel, and young people like you."

You are the voice of the future. This era is changing too fast; the church cannot only listen to the voices of the past.

Sitting here, I sometimes feel very distant from the world. So today, I'd rather be a listener.

Tell me, how do young people like you see the world? How do you see us? Lionel was touched: "A voice of the future..."

He paused for a moment, then met Padmasambhava's gaze: "Your Holiness, you are very frank. Then I will respond with the same frankness—"

First of all, I must admit that I am not a religious person, nor do I believe in any religion in this world.

My own spiritual world is very fulfilling; I don't need religion to fill the void within it.

Father Fabre, who was standing to the side, changed his expression again and was about to speak to remind him, but was stopped by Leo XIII gently raising his hand.

The Pope showed no displeasure, but simply gestured for Lionel to continue.

Lionel nodded: "But I also know that I am in the minority."

For the vast majority of people, religion remains an indispensable spiritual necessity.

It offers solace, explains the vicissitudes of fate, maintains peace within the community, and provides the most basic moral principles.

Pope Leo XIII nodded slightly, and Father Fabre's expression relaxed somewhat.

Lionel also turned his gaze to the icon, as if speaking to this divine child who suffered on behalf of humanity:

“I believe it is this universal human need itself that gives the church its power and authority, rather than just doctrine or— ‘God’.”

The church responded to this need in the right way, which is why it has survived for so long and was once so powerful.

He paused here, his gaze sweeping across the simple walls of the prayer room: "However, the church is now facing a predicament..."

In my view, this is not a case of 'humans' violating 'God's kingdom on earth'.

The secular territory a religion possesses depends on the spiritual world it occupies.

When it fails to meet people's new spiritual needs, its secular territory will naturally shrink.

Therefore, if I may be so bold, the Holy See, and the Church today, perhaps only deserve to possess the vast secular territory it has now.

Father Fabre, his face pale with anger, finally snapped, "Arrogant!"

Pope Leo XIII raised his hand again to stop him, his face still calm: "Then, in your opinion, what should the Church do?"

How can I regain... the right to deserve more?

Lionel remained silent for a long time before saying, "Holy Throne, no one knows where the Kingdom of Heaven is."

But both you and these magnificent palaces exist within this material, secular world.

He turned his head, his gaze intense: "People's needs also exist in this world."

They need bread, justice, knowledge, hope, and respect.

The church may have always thought of itself as a way, but in reality it has become a wall.

I don't know what the church should do, but I'm only stating my own choice—

If there's a sturdy high wall and an egg breaking against it, I'll always stand on the side of the egg.

Prince Ryo XIII listened quietly, his inner thoughts unreadable.

He didn't press further, but instead changed the subject, asking about Lionel's work, his hometown, and his views on the current state of French literature...

The atmosphere eased, becoming more like a conversation between scholars.

At the end of the meeting, Leo XIII gave Lionel a gentle blessing and presented him with a small gilded medal engraved with the image of St. Peter's Key.

Lionel bowed again to take his leave. Father Fabre saw him off out of the Vatican, and neither of them said anything more until they reached the carriage.

Watching Lionel's carriage drive away, Father Fabre hurriedly returned to the small prayer room to report.

King Leo XIII remained seated in the same spot, gazing at the statue opposite him, as if in deep meditation.

Father Fabre whispered, “Holy See, he has left. Sorel… his thoughts are dangerous, we should…”

King Leo XIII slowly turned his head: "Danger? Perhaps. Paul, tell me, given a wall and an egg, which side would you choose to stand on?"

Father Fabre was stunned and didn't know how to answer.

Without waiting for his reply, King Leo XIII instructed, "Let the managers of the opera house know that Rome will not stand in the way if they are interested in bringing 'The Chorus' to the theater."

Father Fabre was stunned: "Holy See! This...this play is clearly..."

King Liang XIII raised his hand, his tone as authoritative as a mountain: "Do as I say."

Father Fabre bowed his head and respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Holiness."

(King Leo XIII was later known as the "Pope of the Workers" because he supported workers' rights to fair wages and safe working conditions.)
(End of this chapter)