The Pontiff listened attentively to the story of Niki, and how Isabella had ended up meeting her. "It's a very sad story, I feel sorry for your predecessor Dr. Wilke. Monsignora Meyer told me what you told her about her, but I don't remember her telling me that she had died at Pygar." Gregorius scratched his chin with the eyes half closed, trying to remember. "I hadn't heard anything about such a horrible murder, although it may have happened before our arrival. Anyway, Pygar is a big planet. There are many settlements, and the truth is that until really recently we haven't been... open to the outside, you know, the internal problems that we've had after the death of my predecessor." The clergyman made a disapproving gesture with his lips and then sighed. "When will we stop engendering this senseless violence against each other? I hope the man who caused the doctor Wilke's death was harshly punished. Whoever takes a human life without justification sins terribly against Deux, but mainly sins against his human brothers."
Gregorius listened to Isabella as she explained her thoughts towards religions, and people with religious beliefs. The psychologist was a person with a really nice personality, and he liked her sense of spirituality. Although she wasn't a believer in the Faith of Deux, she was respectful of the beliefs of others, and she didn't prejudge, but rather valued people by her own experience with them.
The Pontiff smiled pleased and nodded, when Saito compared the Hippocratic Oath to a Religion. "Oh, I've never thought it in that way before, but the Hippocratic Oath may actually fit the definition very well. What is a religion, after all? In my opinion it's nothing more than a set of beliefs, and ethical, social and ritual norms, which aim to worship something higher. And that something higher doesn't necessarily have to be an entity that is considered a god, but could be any supreme good that is trying to be achieved."
The Pontiff scratched between Niki's ears absentmindedly as he lost his gaze somewhere in the branches of the trees. "The Faith of Deux is generally respectful of almost all beliefs. Unlike other religions, our creed doesn't exclude or deny the possible existence of other higher entities, or gods, if you prefer to call them that. Nor do we tend to value or judge the value systems of other beliefs, unless they're in direct contrast to what we defend." The clergyman spread his arms and shrugged. "But... well, I sincerely think that it's difficult to be against what the Word of Deux preaches, at least from the point of view of a human being. Especially because I cannot understand how a human could be against the search for peaceful coexistence with his peers and the fight against those who want to exterminate us as a race." Gregorius smiled with a hint of sadness. "I comprehend those who don't wish to practice our way of living life, but it baffles me who opposes to the mere substance of our message. It's like... shooting yourself in the foot, if you'll excuse me the expression."
The Pontiff lit another cigarette while Isabella spoke to him about the origins of mental health, and how to discover its symptoms. That was information that exceeded his knowledge and that he wasn't able to value, given that he didn't have any studies related to science, but Gregorius was a man who liked to learn from someone who knew more than him. Only a fool would miss the opportunity to know more by not wanting to admit his ignorance. He listened respectfully, and was even surprised when Saito explained that even in favorable and paradisiacal environments, situations of mental illness or psychological disorders could also occur similarly.
"I'm absolutely ignorant on these topics, doctor, but I thank you very much for trying to enlighten me." The Pontiff walked a few steps around the fountain, making way for the cat as she jumped to the ground to join Isa again. "To be honest, under these white clothes and stripped of the trappings of my rank, I'm just the son of a Bretonian miner. My family was never able to guarantee me a university education until I joined the Church after its founding. Once inside, I was able to study, but I'm afraid I was always a little allergic to science." Gregorius laughed, amused by his own words. "I always preferred other knowledge, like the Arts, and especially History. I believe that knowing History and remembering it is the only way to learn and evolve from the mistakes of the past." The clergyman waved his hand. "But as I was saying, I don't understand much about medical and scientific matters, so I try to surround myself with people who are versed in those things. For someone like me, who must lead a community, and who am responsible for the lives of so many people, listening to a real psychologist talk about health problems gives me a lot of peace." He smiled at Isabella and bowed slightly. "That's why, Dr. Saito, even if you tell me that I don't need to thank you for doing your job, I'll never stop doing it. It's a pleasure to be able to meet someone as dedicated as you, it's not something as... common as one might wish."
Gregorius was inwardly glad when Saito seemed to agree to talk to John Holiday about sharing information about the Nomads, he wasn't very clear that the psychologist was going to be receptive to thi. After all, he knew how secretive organizations tended to be with their own information. Nonetheless, his was a somewhat bittersweet joy, because deep within him resided a fear about where the steps he was taking might lead.
The Pontiff actually had quite a few doubts about how safe it could be to learn more about the Nomads. The Sacred Codex said nothing about it, but taking into account that the Nomad had very diverse and threatening abilities, such as strange telepathic powers, or the ability to infect the body of a human and force them to do evil, the Church's position had always been to avoid any contact with them, no matter how minimal. So, given the lack of knowledge that existed about these abilities, and the potential risk that could be involved in trying to study them, it was always said that the slightest contact with the Nomads could lead to madness and sin. Any interest in the study of Nomads was disapproved of and even considered heretical and dangerous. However, for a few months now Magister Yuri Orlov had been speaking privately with him, and surprisingly he seemed to be leaning towards studying about the Nomads as a way to defend themselves more effectively.
If anyone else had come to him before with ideas like those, Gregorius would have immediately reprimanded him, and even put him under surveillance. However, Orlov was a man of unwavering faith, almost a legend for the Church, who had been part of its founders and the right hand of the previous Pontiff, until he had lost his mind. The Magister's dedication to the Church and the strength of his beliefs in Deux were beyond doubt and, furthermore, Gregorius knew Orlov too well to fear for his spiritual integrity, given that the Magister had been the Pontiff's mentor since he was just a simple cleric.
Therefore, Gregorius had forced himself to listen, and Orlov had finally managed to make the Pontiff questioned the way the Church was acting regarding the investigation into the Nomads. It was very true that forcing ignorance out of fear, as they were doing until now, avoided certain risks, but at the same time it put them in a very disadvantageous position compared to the aliens who, on the other hand, did know well the weaknesses of the human race. They had both agreed to take the necessary steps to begin gathering information about the Nomads although they decided that, for the moment, it should be a completely secret project hidden from everyone, except for a select few of indisputable loyalty. The Church colonists lived in a very logical fear of the Nomad threat, and the Church had been fostering that fear for years to prevent any of them from wanting to get close to anything related to anything alien. It wouldn't be very prudent to show before the community of believers that the Church Government was now acting in a completely opposite way.
Gregorius nodded towards Saito when she finished speaking. "I really appreciate you wanting to help us with this and, of course, I know that it's not up to you that MFE can give us what I ask for. But I thank you with all my heart for trying." He put out his cigarette, throwing it in the trash can, and then looked at Isabella again. "I don't know if it would be heresy to want to know more about those beings. The Church has always said that it is, but it's also true that the reason for considering it that way is the terror that we suffer because of them. That fear that causes everything that surrounds them, and the fact of not knowing why they seem determined to kill us, that's what has made us prefer to stay as far away as possible from any contact or knowledge of them." Gregorius leaned against the fountain again, absently watching the water hit the marble surface. "However, now I'm beginning to believe that it's precisely the lack of knowledge that feeds the fear loop. We can only stop fearing when we know more about the Nomads, stopping the perception about them as a magical or mythical entities, and beginning to see them as a real, tangible, and explainable enemy."
The clergyman watched Isabella for a few moments, then added. "In any case, I beg you to maintain as much discretion as possible about this, especially with the people of the Church itself. I don't want to cause alarm to anyone, and there would probably be some believers who wouldn't be able to understand why I've now decided to start taking an interest in this type of information. Perhaps they might even question my Faith, and my leadership cabilities." The Pontiff shooked his head sadly. "This Church has too many wounds that are still fresh after what happened with my predecessor. I think I'm doing the right thing, but the last thing I want is to create more unrest and destabilization again. We already have enough with this threat of war hanging over our heads like a blade."
Gregorius sighed and remained silent as he swept his gaze around the surrounding vegetation. For a few moments his mind was simply dedicated to admiring the colors of the lights and shadows caused by the stars and lanterns on the leaves of the trees, and to listening to the relaxing lapping of the water in the fountain. He closed his eyes and breathed in the aroma of the garden again, only to open them seconds later to look at Isabella and Niki.
"I'm afraid I'm not being a good host." The Pontiff smiled guilty. "You've come down here to relax, and I've turned this moment of quietness into some kind of diplomatic meeting in which I'm disturbing your soul with problems that should not concern you. I hope I haven't been too impolite, doctor, but I apologize." Gregorius stood up and approached Saito. "It's a little late for me now, so I'm going to retire to my chambers and let you finally enjoy the peace that this garden offers. Stay as long as you want, you're in your own home." The clergyman offered his hand in a straight position, not so that she could kiss his ring, but so that she could shake it. "I want to tell you that it has been a pleasure to share these moments with you, doctor. Monsignora Meyer told me that you're leaving tomorrow, but I hope we can repeat it some other day." Gregorius smiled sincerely. "I wish you a safe flight, and of course, you're welcome here whenever you want."
