Gunther reads a message from the Chancellor:

Electors of the Reich,

It is indeed good news that we are reconciled. It is a joy to be savored. Yet as Chancellor I must now consider the practical aspects of our readmittance into the Church.

We must now take into account the opinion of Pope Lanbertus on any actions we might take. Several of our enemies stand higher in his favor than we do, the French and Venetians for example. If we wage an aggressive war outside our current territory with them, we risk excommunication again. This cannot happen!

We have two options available to us, we strike quickly enough and take what we can before a Papal edict compels us to stop, or we engage in an active defense against these powers. Eventually, if they continue attacking us, their standing with the Church will fall, and they themselves may be excommunicated. Both strategies have worked for us in the past.

The conquest of Marseille and Breslau may have to be delayed while we pursue the latter option. Ragusa is the exception, I will attempt to have this lightly defended castle taken quickly before any outside interference can stop us. This will shorten our land border with the Venetians by hundreds of miles, deprive them of their major recruiting center, and will provide our closest port to the Holy Land. These strategic concerns outweigh the risk of displeasing the Pope. However, if ordered by the Pope to cease an attack, I will immediately do so.

Duke Leopold has spoken of seeking peace with many of the factions with whom we are currently at war. This is a noble goal, but I am not sure our peace with the English can be replicated. The English invaded us, we crushed their army, thanks to Count von Hamburg, and then they declared war on the Danes. Also we did not hold any of their territory. These unique factors, I believe, led them to seek peace with us.

The other nations we are feuding with, believe we hold territories that are theirs by the grace of God. The merchant republics still pine for their lost capitals, the Poles want Thorn, the French seem obsessed with Dijon. Even if we grind their armies into dust, peace negotiations with them will still be difficult, and may only serve to discourage our diplomats and blunt their skill. I will seek peace, but I will not give in to outrageous demands or give up one inch of the Empire. Nor have any of their diplomats approached me for peace in my term, though perhaps in Duke Leopold's.

As for calling an official Crusade, until I can send a diplomat to the Pope, this may not be possible. As I said before our standing with him may not be high enough. I will do what I can however. If the current Pope will not grant us a sanctioned Crusade, I am confident the next one will.