The Fox of France - Chapter 497 (Patreon)

Chapter 497: The Charitable Empire

In the luxurious salon of the "Caesar" battleship, formerly the "Caesar" Hotel, Joseph and Pope Pius VII held a cordial and friendly meeting, discussing issues concerning the spiritual and cultural development of Ireland. Joseph proposed to the Pope that the Holy See should focus on healthcare and education as its primary areas of effort, as this would not only ensure revenue but also maintain the church's image.

Pope Pius VII agreed with Joseph’s suggestion and expressed his gratitude. However, he also expressed some concern about the Republic of Ireland's decision not to establish a state religion, opting instead to adopt France's policy of "religious freedom."

"I'm not saying that the French policy is bad, but there is a difference between Ireland and France," the Pope said. "France has always been the core region of Catholicism. The French have been believers of the true faith for generations and are most favored by God. Even without a state religion, the French people will continue to adhere to the correct faith. But Ireland is different. These days, I've talked with Irish clergy and have noticed many issues because of the persecution and suppression by those dreadful heretics, which has led to misunderstandings about our doctrines. Though they remain loyal to the true faith, the poison of heresy has seeped in over the years. How can we adopt a policy of religious freedom now?"

"Your Holiness," Joseph said, "which significant heresies exist in Europe today besides our true Catholic Church? Only the Eastern Orthodox Church to the east, and those calling themselves Protestants. These heretics, cunning as they are, skilled at leading astray the lambs of God, but if priests loyal to the true faith preach the real Gospel, with the might of God, could they not outshine these heresies?"

Joseph paused, then continued, "Relying on the might of God, the true Catholic Church has an unmatched ability to preach. Your Holiness, consider how many seminaries we have compared to these heretics. Their theological theories don’t even come close to ours. And think about how many priests we train each year compared to them. So, in terms of preaching capabilities, plus our support, the true Catholic Church, in its charitable endeavors, can achieve far more than these heretics.

"For instance, you know, Your Holiness, that French medical standards far exceed those prevalent in regions dominated by heretics. If the Catholic Church collaborates sincerely with us in setting up charitable hospitals throughout Europe, imagine the impact. I don’t believe those sheep led astray by heretics wouldn’t fall ill. When they do, would they choose the inferior hospitals of the heretics or our superior ones?

"Perhaps some overly stubborn individuals will stick to their superstitions. But the effectiveness of our hospitals, visible to anyone with eyes, will speak for itself. Although, theoretically, the level of medical expertise has no relation to the purity of faith, the common folk won’t think so. They'll just see that these hospitals belong to the Catholic Church and can save their lives, which must mean the Catholic Church is the true faith.

"Jesus Christ once said, 'How ungodly this generation is. No miracles shall be shown to them.' But isn't the advancement in medicine a kind of miracle? Didn’t Jesus perform miracles while spreading the truth? Without walking on water or the miracle of the loaves and fishes, would so many have followed Him? Even now, how many followers of heresies aren’t swayed by miracles? Now that we hold miracles in our hands, should we still fear the flock will follow the heretics?"

Pope Pius VII nodded, "The advancements in medicine are indeed God’s reward for our devotion. But to build charitable hospitals on a large scale is also a massive undertaking."

Joseph understood what the Pope implied – the old man was worried about the cost. Clearly, even a Pope not accustomed to modern life didn’t understand that charity could be the most profitable venture.

"Your Holiness, have you considered something Jesus said: 'For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.' Those who only want to keep money close will surely lose it; but those who part with it will gain even more. Charitable hospitals can receive donations, and with our influence, we can secure tax-exempt status for these hospitals across many European countries. Furthermore, we could implement tiered healthcare, where our charity is directed only towards the very poor, while the wealthy who receive treatment in our facilities would be charged. We could explicitly state that their fees support charitable works – though, to be honest, what church activity isn’t a charitable work?"

Indeed, what church activity couldn’t be labeled charitable? Even building luxurious cathedrals filled with lavish items could be seen as showcasing devotion and pleasing God – wasn’t that a public good, a charity? Even if the money was simply stored in a bank, using

 just a small portion of the interest for charitable deeds each year, that too was sustainable charity. Many future charitable organizations would use only three to four percent of their total assets for charity each year – nearly a standard practice.

Clearly, Joseph's words had opened a new door for Pope Pius VII, showing him a vista he had never seen before.

"Ah, President Bonaparte, this is truly worth studying," Pope Pius VII said, smiling so broadly his eyes narrowed into slits, his dark yellow eyes appearing to transform as well.

Two days later, the "Caesar" battleship returned to Le Havre. At Joseph's invitation, Pope Pius VII and Joseph took a train to Paris for a visit, following a temporary plan made aboard the ship to discuss with Napoleon and Minister Lucien how to establish a "Charitable Empire."

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