OOC: Pardon my borrowing your character; it's only to establish the setting for a HRE action:

***

St. Peter's Church, Roma

Silvester II was troubled. His dream of a peaceful Catholic world was collapsing before his eyes.

England. Then France and England. Then the Holy Roman Empire, France, and England. And now the Byzantine Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, France, and England...

Oh bother, bother, bother! thought the Pope.

The news from the Byzantines was particularly troubling. Even before he could even consider the amazing decree made by Kaiser Otto III, now he had to consider facing a far wider pan-religious war.

Ah, yes... the Holy Roman Empire... what to do with them...

He recalled a comment made to him earlier that day by the Baron Sigmund von Wilhelm, just before he left to return to the Imperial Court:

"You see, Your Holiness? You see? First the Chinese pagans, and now the unfaithful Byzantines who bastardize Our Lord's teaching! France's leadership has surely been consumed by the Darkness if they consort with such foul creatures? You see, Your Holiness? You see?"

Ah, yes. Silvester II was indeed very troubled.