Vatican

The Vatican is a religious group located in Western Rome, in a city by the same name. It is the nerve center of the holy Catholic Church and home to the Pope and the Basilica di San Pietro.

Overview[]

The Vatican has changed over the years, with the years of the Inquisition perhaps being their darkest moments in time. The Vatican's divisions now act in absolute secrecy, reflecting more modern-day detective work than medieval jurisdiction. Most Paladins use subtle clues (missing persons, strange mass-blackouts etc.) to search for their enemies. After a case is continually researched and deemed proper by the Cenacle, the auto-da-fé begins. Following this, the subject is hunted until its death or a truncation coming from a Censor.

The Vatican also acts as a clandestine organization, and is even said to have a top-secret section of its operations, though officially these sections do not exist. They are a primary foil to other organizations such as the Hellsing Organization or the Order of the Silver Cross. Given that Hellsing and the Silver Cross not only employ vampires and werewolves but run on the principles of staunch Protestantism and Eastern Orthodoxy, the Vatican are their natural rivals, despite their similar aims. They do, however, work together when necessary and the Vatican would recognize the religious principles of the Silver Cross as "spiritual equals".

The Vatican see it in their interest to kill vampires and demons because they are naturally evil and are an abomination before God. However, Hellsing and other organizations kill monsters if their actions are evil or wrong, especially if they kill humans. While the Vatican will destroy any malevolent force, they will not attack a monster unless it poses a threat to their homeland, country, or faith. Unfortunately, higher-ups such as Enrico Maxwell, who runs Iscariot, is willing to go against the orders and morals of the Vatican simply to satisfy his own needs to vanquish all heretics.

Description[]

Hierarchy[]

The Pope is the ex officio head of state of Vatican, who functions dependent on his primordial function as bishop of the diocese of Rome. The term Holy See refers not to the Vatican but to the Pope's spiritual and pastoral governance, largely exercised through the Roman Curia. His official title with regard to Vatican City is Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City.

Beneath him are the Inquisitor-Generals who are the leading directors of the secret divisions that lay within the walls of the Vatican. Enrico Maxwell is an example of an Inquisitor-General who serves as the director of Vatican Section XIII. Inquisitor-Generals can also be nominated to high-ranking religious positions should their fealty and cause be pivotal in the advancement of the Vatican's ideals.

Next to the directors serve the Provincials, who are chosen by said directors and assigned to specific geographical regions, where the supervise and coordinate the local Cenacula. Most Provincials refrain from joining their brothers in the field, instead acting as advisors, mentors or scholars. All Provincials meet annually in Rome to discuss the previous year's activities and plan for the next year. Even prominent witch-hunters outside the Society are invited to these Councils.

The contacts of the Provincials are the Abbés, who are responsible for maintaining and stewarding their Cenaculum. They are aided by the Censors, who are part of the Office of the Censor, who ensure doctrinal orthodoxy and rout out infiltrators, but also ensure that individual Vatican members do not abuse their powers or church funds.

Divisions[]

The Vatican is made up of a number of smaller divisions. The members of the Holy See share a common goal — to deliver humanity from supernatural evil — but their interests and modus operandi vary and even clash. Nonetheless, most of the members within these divisions, at least those with fighting capabilities, are referred to as Paladins. The 'paladins' are the elite fighting force of their organization. They wear long cassocks and crosses, and are even oddly wearing round rimmed glasses; though each outfit varies in appearance depending on the division. They are known to fight with a wide variety of weapons, usually as necessitated by the situation. Their weapons can range from stakes, holy water, pistols, swords, and bayonets.

Vatican Subdivisions[]

Iscariot - attack corps.
Condotierri - protectors and defenders.
Office of the Censor - investigators and judges.
Order of St. Joan - intelligence and information processing.

But while some paladins remain generalists, many find intellectual support and mutual ideology in smaller organizations known as "sects". Inquisitors are not required to join any sect, they only exist for mutual support regarding these ideological matters. There are currently only five known sects within the Vatican.

Vatican Sects[]

Sons of Tertullian
Order of St. Michael
Sisterhood of St. Claire
Sanbenito
Brethren of Albertus