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Europe, Vatican City State, "Land of the Prophets".

Located in the northwest corner of Rome, the capital of Italy, this country within a country with an area of only 044 square kilometers is the seat of the Holy See (SS), the highest authority of the Christian Catholic Church.

It was another early morning, the morning dew was slightly wet, the chill had not yet faded, and the sky was just bright.

St. Peter's Square is spotless, and many believers have gathered, gathering in twos and threes, whispering and praying. On the opposite side of this famous square stands the Vatican Palace, supported by white marble columns, an area where visitors stop and which for centuries were only accessible to the upper echelons of the Holy See.

Since the 14th century, it has been the settlement of successive popes, and it has been rebuilt several times, simple but solemn, like a majestic temple, showing the majesty of the Roman clergy to the world.

The most famous of the world's most famous places in this Holy See is the Sistine Chapel. Every once in a while, this is the place where members of the College of Cardinals from all over the world elect their popes.

On normal days, it is the Pope's private prayer hall.

The tall curved dome, the quaint boulder columns and all kinds of delicate carvings inlaid on the inner wall make the whole palace magnificent, solemn and heavy. The tall members of the Papal Guard, dressed in red, yellow and blue striped uniforms, armed with ancient spears and swords at their waists, had serious expressions. It's intimidating.

Cardinal Jose Mentigni, head of the Holy See's Liturgical Minister, walked through the hall and the long gallery to the door of the Sistine Chapel, and raised his hand to the papal guard guarding the door with a solemn expression. The pure white cuffs and bright red shawl of the caftan shook slightly with the movements.

"I want to see His Majesty the Pope."

"Yes, Bishop Joseph."

The two members of the guard bowed their heads at the same time, reached out and pushed open the heavy door behind them, and their eyes involuntarily swept over Cardinal Jose Montigny and landed on a strange man behind him.

The man was wearing a black priest's robe, apparently just an ordinary staff member of the Holy See. The most critical thing is. This man was unusually tall, and when he looked at the members of the guard, he could almost say that he looked down, and his eyes were very disrespectful, and he looked at it unscrupulously, and there was a faint sense of banter and teasing.

Not sure why. This reminded the two members of the guard of the playful expressions of the playful spectators at the circus show, and it was inevitable that there was a trace of resentment in their hearts, and the ordinary believers and priests did not dare to be disrespectful in the slightest.

In the inner court and in everyday times, the members of the guards are unarmoured, and the traditional fluffy uniforms and leggings have become somewhat out of step with the times, making them look a little funny. In fact, even during ceremonies such as military parades and oath-taking, these guards wore only shiny plate armor. It doesn't have much protection. In modern times, in today's long-standing peace, their symbolism is far greater than practical.

And even if he noticed that the guards were looking at him unkindly. The tall priest remained uninhibited, still looking up and down on his own, but soon seemed to lose interest again, and turned his head to look inside the Sistine Chapel behind the door.

Impudent!

As the exclusive guard of the pope, wherever they go on weekdays, they are greeted with the admiration and love of the faithful. Few would dare to make such a naked contempt. Both members of the guard roared angrily in their hearts at the same time, but only in the presence of Cardinal Joseph. After all, they didn't dare to show it, so they had no choice but to swallow this sulking.

Inside the empty Sistine Chapel. An elaborate marble-framed screen divides the church into two parts. Only two figures appeared in it. An old man dressed in pure white traditional vestments with a solemn cross on his chest sits quietly at the front of the chapel and prays in a low voice.

It was the current pope, Julius Mario Belglio, whose Christian name was Phanus.

At the entrance of the church, a quiet man dressed as a squire stood, noticing the noise behind him, turned his head to look at Cardinal Joseph, bowed his head, and whispered: "Your Excellency Bishop Joseph." ”

Josemontini didn't show the slightest expression, just nodded slightly, and then his gaze fell on the old man sitting quietly in front of him.

The tall man who had been following him did not speak, but he was not as excited, nervous, or reserved as the usual people were about to meet the Pope, but remained very relaxed, and looked at the interior of the church with interest.

The Sistine Chapel, which is more than 20 meters high, is very simple on the outside, but there is a hole on the inside. In this rectangular building, the ceiling and surrounding walls are painted with magnificent frescoes. Outside, Michelangelo's religious story paintings 'Genesis' and 'The Last Judgment', which took several years to paint, and inside the chapel are Raphael's grand paintings on the themes of 'Theology', 'Philosophy', 'Poetics', and 'Jurisprudence', as well as the most famous altarpiece, "Sistine Madonna".

Most of the paintings are based on stories from the Bible, and the characters are realistic and lifelike, which is a treasure of art and a full demonstration of the majesty of the Holy See.

Benedict, the pope's attendant, frowned almost immediately, a little dissatisfied with the priest who had come in with the cardinal. This seems to be a rookie, even if it is the first time to enter the Sistine Chapel, you should not be so disrespectful and casual looking, not to mention that His Majesty the Pope is still praying. However, at least the other party did not make any noise, nor did he make any other movements, and because Cardinal Joseph was present, he did not reprimand, but muttered a few words in his heart.

Due to long-term careful preservation and professional cleaning, the oversized roof painting "Genesis", which occupies the entire circular dome and exceeds 300 square meters, still maintains bright colors, and the whole picture is majestic and extraordinary, carrying the vicissitudes of history for centuries.

But this is obviously not the tall man, who looked at the mural with a look in his eyes that was indifferent and detached. In the picture, the enormous, seated and reclining youth, as well as the lifelike witches, prophets, and slaves, which Michelangelo has painstakingly and meticulously depicted, do not seem to impress him at all. (To be continued)