Aurora:Holy Catholic Church
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The Catholic Church, also referred to as the Holy Catholic Church, is the largest organized church on EarthMC with over 450 faithful Christians across the server. Established on February 10th, 2020, the Holy Catholic Church is the oldest and only global institution on the server having served the community on both Terra Nova and Terra Aurora. The Church attempts to emulate the Christian unity that has been lost in the real world by housing Christians from all sects and denominations including Catholic, Orthodox, and various Protestant players. These players combine to form 18 dioceses and roughly 120 parishes that actively contribute to their communities by harboring new players and combatting toxicity.
The Holy Catholic Church is led by the Roman Pontiff, or Pope, who serves as the Bishop of Rome and the supreme sovereign of the Papal States.
The Holy See, led by the Pope, serves as the central governing authority for the Church. Within the Holy See, the Roman Curia oversees the administrative functions of the Church through its numerous congregations and dicasteries. The specific rules and guidelines for the Church’s operations are outlined in the Holy Canonical Law.
Mission
The core spiritual beliefs of the Holy Catholic Church on EarthMC are based on the real Roman Catholic Church with recognition and accommodation given to the differing beliefs held by those of other Christian denominations. The Holy Catholic Church does not assume any real spiritual authority. In EMC Canon Law, the mission of Holy Catholic Church is described as follows:
1. The Holy Catholic Church on EarthMC does not exist to function as a roleplay group, but rather to serve as a welcoming community for the Christian playerbase of the server.
2. The Holy Catholic Church shall provide refuge to all players who find themselves in a state of mental distress in an effort to give guidance to vulnerable players in what is sometimes seen as an apathetic community.
3. The Holy Catholic Church shall assist players on EarthMC who find themselves without the necessary materials to provide for themselves on the server.
4. The Holy Catholic Church shall inspire the greater EarthMC community to adopt the values of Christianity.
5. The Holy Catholic Church shall strive to achieve peace in all regions of the server and ensure proper justice is served to those who wish to create unwarranted conflict.
6. The Holy Catholic Church on EarthMC shall remind the Christian players of the server of their real life and that, even in virtual communities, Christians must abide by the teachings of Christ and His Church. Love and compassion trump hate and wrath. The Christians of EarthMC should speak out against heresy on the server in defense of their faith and spread the gospel of Christ, but the Church does not intend to preach the real canonical religious stances or laws of the Roman Catholic Church.
Organization
The hierarchy and structure of the Holy Catholic Church is based on that of the real Roman Catholic Church with adaptations made to fit the needs of the player base on EarthMC. The clergy on EarthMC has been simplified down to two levels: the episcopate, composed of bishops who hold jurisdiction over a geographic area called a diocese; and the presbyterate, composed of priests ordained by bishops and who work in local dioceses or religious orders. The Church is led by the Pope, or the bishop of Rome, whose jurisdiction is called the Holy See. There are many other holy orders, martial orders, and religious institutes under the Church which collectively provide the faithful members of the Church with the opportunities to pursue diverse playstyles on the server and serve to advance the Church in her mission on the server.
Papacy
The Pope, also referred to as the supreme pontiff, is the bishop of Rome and leader of the global Holy Catholic Church on EarthMC. There have been four popes throughout the history of the Church on EarthMC with the current one, Pope Pius XIII, having served since his election on July 27th, 2024. All popes are elected through a papal conclave hosted in Rome where the College of Cardinals vote on the next bishop of Rome.
| No. | Image | Name | World | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pope Alexander IX (†) | Terra Nova | 10 February 2020 - 3 March 2020
(1 month) | |
| 2 | Pope Benedict XVII (†) | Terra Nova &
Terra Aurora |
11 April 2020 - 4 July 2022
(2 years, 3 months) | |
| 3 | Pope Clement XV | Terra Aurora | 10 July 2022 - 16 July 2023
(1 year) | |
| 4 | Pope Pius XIII | Terra Aurora | 27 July 2023 - present
(active) |
College of Cardinals
The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Holy Catholic Church who are responsible for conducting the affairs of the Holy See by assisting the Pope in the general administration and governance of the Church. The members of the College of Cardinals are responsible for voting on policy and doctrine relating to the operation and function of the Church which, after receiving a majority vote, will then be presented to the Pope for consideration. Throughout the history of the Church, there have been fourteen total cardinals.
| No. | Image | Name | World | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardinal Aleksey Smirnov (†) | Terra Nova | 10 February 2020 - 10 February 2020
(elected Pope) (1 day) --- 3 March 2020 - 26 September 2020 (6 months) | |
| 1 | Cardinal Angelo Cardinalis de Medici (†) | Terra Nova &
Terra Aurora |
10 February 2020 - 11 April 2020
(elected Pope) (1 month) | |
| 1 | thumb|center | Cardinal Bernard Albani | Terra Nova &
Terra Aurora |
10 February 2020 - 10 July 2022
(elected Pope) (2 years, 5 months) --- 17 December 2023 - present (active) |
| 1 | Cardinal Alastair Kyse | Terra Nova &
Terra Aurora |
10 February 2020 - 26 August 2022
(2 years, 6 months) | |
| 1 | Cardinal Louis Raphael | Terra Nova | 10 February 2020 - 14 June 2021
(1 year, 4 months) | |
| 6 | Cardinal Stefan Cyrzek | Terra Nova | 26 September 2020 - 22 October 2021
(1 year, 1 month) | |
| 7 | Cardinal Karnakus | Terra Nova &
Terra Aurora |
30 June 2021 - 27 July 2023
(elected Pope) (2 years, 1 month) | |
| 8 | Cardinal Murphy | Terra Nova &
Terra Aurora |
16 November 2021 - 11 February 2024
(2 years, 3 months) | |
| 9 | Cardinal Swrhitzy | Terra Nova | 15 November 2021 - 3 February 2022
(3 months) | |
| 10 | Cardinal Fernando Collor | Terra Aurora | 23 May 2022 - 15 December 2023
(1 year, 7 months) | |
| 11 | Cardinal Kuzok | Terra Aurora | 17 August 2022 - present
(active) | |
| 12 | Cardinal Perseus | Terra Aurora | 16 May 2023 - present
(active) | |
| 13 | Cardinal Awuzup | Terra Aurora | 17 September 2023 - present
(active) | |
| 14 | Cardinal Quarox | Terra Aurora | 11 February 2024 - present
(active) |
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