Pope-King

The Pope-King is the head of the Church of the Holy Light, and is considered the earthly representative of the Radiant King. They are the leader of the Holy Kingdom, and their word is law.
The Pope-King is selected from the royal bloodline by the Archbishops of the Church, who believe that the Radiant King himself will guide them to choose the most worthy candidate. The Pope-King is always a powerful holy mage, and they are believed to be the most devout and faithful servant of the Radiant King.
As the ruler of the Holy Kingdom, the Pope-King holds immense power and authority. They have the final say in all matters of state, and they are responsible for enforcing the laws and teachings of the Church of the Holy Light. They are also the commander-in-chief of the Holy Kingdom's military, and have the power to declare holy wars against other nations.
The Pope-King is often seen as a figure of divine authority and righteousness, and they are revered by the people of the Holy Kingdom. They are expected to set an example of holiness and devotion, and their every action is scrutinized by the Church and the people.
The many generations of Pope-King's have been powerful and influential figures in the Holy Kingdom for over five millennia, and their rule has always been regarded as absolute.
It is not uncommon for the Pope-King to be corrupt, using their position for personal gain and exploiting the common people. They are known to be ruthless and tyrannical, using their power to silence opposition and crush dissent. Despite their divine mandate, some Pope-Kings have been far from the holy and righteous rulers that they are expected to be. This is kept a strict secret, and it is believed that even if the Pope-King's misdeeds were to be revealed, the Holy Kingdom's heavily indoctrinated peoples would simply pay it no mind.
The Pope-King of the Holy Kingdom is said to have godly healing powers that allow them to quickly and effectively heal from injuries. It is said that if someone were to try to cut off their head, the wound would be healed the moment the other edge of the blade passes through their neck. This ability allows many Pope-Kings to live long and healthy lives, even beyond the typical human lifespan. However, the Pope-King's godly healing powers are not without their limitations. Despite the ability to heal quickly from injuries, the Pope-King's body will eventually succumb to the natural effects of aging. Once the holy magic is no longer able to keep up with the rate at which their body decays, the Pope-King will rapidly age and eventually die. It is not uncommon for a Pope-King to live to be 100-120 years old, but this is still much shorter than the near-immortal lifespan that they could potentially have with their healing abilities.
Despite the longevity of those who become Pope-King, the position is still highly coveted, and any direct decendants are groomed and prepared to be the next ruler of the Holy Kingdom. The Pope-King takes many partners through their lives, and as such produce many possible heirs. Most of the royal princes and princessess, however, never become the Pope-King, and are frequently outlived by them. When a Pope-King dies, their successor is chosen by the Archbishops of the Church from all living princes and princessess of the Lightloved Royal Family. The process is shrouded in secrecy, but it is believed that the Archbishops pray and seek guidance from the Radiant King to choose the next Pope-King. Once a successor is chosen by the Radiant King, they are immediately infused with the powers of the Pope-King, and officially appointed as the new Pope-King.
The new Pope-King is then crowned in a grand ceremony at the Holy Capitol, where they are celebrated by the people and recognized as the new leader of the Holy Kingdom. This ceremony is considered to be the most important event in the Holy Kingdom, as it marks the transition of power from one Pope-King to the next, and signals for festivities to begin and celebrate throughout the entire Holy Kingdom.
The current Pope-King of the Holy Kingdom is Pope-King Quentin Lightloved II, who has ruled for over 100 years. He is known for his iron fist, tyranny, and strict adherence to the laws of the Church, and he has been a powerful and effective ruler. Pope-King Quentin Lightloved II remains a beloved figure amongst practically all of the Holy Kingdom, and his rule is considered to be just and righteous. Not that would dare to speak out against him, should they even have the capacity to disagree.

Type

Royalty, Hereditary