(holy) father & son

History

Young Halberdier Jonas Brack of the Pontifical Swiss Guard first saw Vincent Cardinal Benítez, cardinal in pectore, at Porta Sant'anna when standing guard for the beginning of the conclave. Seeing that Vice-Commander Pfyffer was about to turn the exhausted stranger away, he radioed Commander Leutzinger to ask him to attend the scene.

During the first two years of the Innocent papacy, the young Guard often spoke keenly with the new Holy Father, about such wide-ranging topics as theology and soccer. Jonas quickly came to regard Innocent as a father, something which he initially regarded as a personal failing of professionalism.

After the Angelus shooting, Innocent encouraged Brack to, if it was what he wanted, apply to attend seminary after his mandatory service period in the Swiss Guard, something Jonas then pursued in Rome's pontifical seminary. Upon Jonas' ordination, Vincent offered him a position in the Papal Household, to assist the Prefect, Thomas Lawrence (Lawrence's predecessor having passed away shortly before this time). Jonas took the position, and quickly became an integral part of the Household.

Vincent eventually promoted Jonas to become Prefect of the Papal Household, conferring the titles of Monsignor and then of Bishop and, eventually, Archbishop, on him. As Innocent aged, Jonas was there to support him, picking up more duties as well as standing by his side to physically and emotionally support him.

After the death of Innocent, Brack was a champion of his legacy.

Trivia

• Jonas' pectoral cross was a gift from Innocent.
• In the alternative universe where Jonas eventually becomes Pope, two papacies after Innocent's, he takes the papal name of 'Vincent.'

Gallery