Make France Great Again-Chapter 752 - 743 The Baptism Begins
As Pope Pius IX appeared, Jerome Bonaparte in a black formal suit and Empress Augusta in a white dress also followed closely on the red carpet.
The people sitting in their seats quickly stood up to pay respect to Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta until they stepped onto the stage.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress!" Pope Pius IX slightly bowed to Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta in respect.
"Holy Father!" Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta also slightly bowed in return,
After the brief greetings, Pope Pius IX spread his hands and said to Empress Augusta, "Your Majesty the Empress, please hand over my godson Friedrich to me, I will baptize him personally!"
Empress Augusta slowly extended her hand, handing the Crown Prince Friedrich Bonaparte she was holding to Pope Pius IX.
After receiving Friedrich, Pope Pius IX replied to Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, could you please stand there and wait for a moment!"
Looking at Friedrich Bonaparte in the arms of Pope Pius IX, Empress Augusta showed a sad expression.
Although Empress Augusta’s intention was also for Friedrich’s future, thinking about the "ordeal" Friedrich was about to face made her uncomfortable.
"Augusta, leave Friedrich to the Holy Father!" Jerome Bonaparte took Augusta’s hand and led her to the edge of the altar.
Standing in the center of the altar, Pope Pius IX immediately ordered the choir of Notre-Dame Cathedral to chant the mass again, and at the same time, he slowly signaled to the group of bishops behind him, and a bishop appeared beside Pope Pius IX.
Holding Friedrich Bonaparte, Pope Pius IX officially began the ceremony; he handed over the clothes wrapped around Friedrich Bonaparte to the bishop piece by piece, and soon a bare Friedrich Crown Prince appeared.
Since it’s only February, the temperature in Paris was still slightly chilly, and feeling the wave of cold, the bare Friedrich Bonaparte cried continuously, seemingly complaining to Pope Pius IX.
This made Empress Augusta, standing on the stage, feel an impulse to rush over. If it weren’t for Jerome Bonaparte tightly holding Empress Augusta, she might have already run to Pope Pius IX demanding an end to it.
"Augusta, calm down!" Jerome Bonaparte whispered to Empress Augusta.
"But... but..." Maternal instinct made Empress Augusta feel heartbroken, and she began to regret forcing Pope Pius IX to baptize Friedrich.
"There’s no ’but’!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head with a determined gaze and whispered to Empress Augusta.
Empress Augusta had no choice but to follow Jerome Bonaparte’s command, but her gaze remained fixed on Friedrich Bonaparte, worried about any mishap.
Next, under the gaze of everyone present, a priest slowly brought over a basin of water emitting a slight warmth, and both Empress Augusta and Jerome Bonaparte breathed a sigh of relief.
Jerome Bonaparte couldn’t help but admire how the Holy See could adapt through millennia; no matter the situation, they could always improvise.
Just like the "Holy Water" being brought by the priest now, Pope Pius IX dared not pour cold water directly on Friedrich, fearing that in such cold weather, he might develop some illness.
If any issue were to arise with the Crown Prince, not just the Emperor and Empress, but even the high officials of the Second Empire wouldn’t spare Pope Pius IX and the Pope State.
After all, the power of the high officials of the Second Empire is tied to the House of Bonaparte, and to maintain their glory and wealth without being abolished, they must prolong the Second Empire’s time in France as much as possible.
Friedrich Bonaparte is one of their hopes.
Then, Pope Pius IX began to recite prayers for Friedrich Bonaparte, and after the prayers ended, he blessed him with a devout expression.
After all the turmoil, Friedrich Bonaparte no longer cried as before; he curiously examined the old man holding him in his arms, occasionally giggling.
Pope Pius IX’s face, full of wrinkles, also showed a faint smile of relief; although he disliked Jerome Bonaparte, who disrespected God, he didn’t dislike Friedrich Bonaparte, and even found this lovely little guy somewhat endearing.
After all, most people, as they grow old, become nostalgic for the past, sometimes channeling such nostalgia onto younger lives.
"My godson, God’s gaze has been upon you since the moment you were born..." Pope Pius IX spoke while handing Friedrich Bonaparte to the Bishop of Notre-Dame Cathedral beside him.
The Bishop of Notre-Dame Cathedral gently held Friedrich above a wooden basin, waiting for Pope Pius IX to commence; Pope Pius IX picked up a gilded vessel, filled it with water, and poured it over Friedrich Bonaparte’s entire body.
Soon, after Friedrich Bonaparte was entirely drenched, Pope Pius IX gave the order for the priest beside him to wipe the Crown Prince’s body.
After wiping the Crown Prince Friedrich’s body completely, Pope Pius IX dressed Friedrich in brand new clothes.
The once interrupted Mass began to chant again, as Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta once more stood in the center of the main altar under the command of Pope Pius IX. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Holding Friedrich Bonaparte, Empress Augusta expressed her gratitude to Pope Pius IX, and Jerome Bonaparte also expressed his thanks to Pope Pius IX.
In the midst of a solemn Mass, the baptism ceremony officially concluded, and Pope Pius IX, along with his entourage and the bishop, left the main altar. Jerome Bonaparte, Empress Augusta, and the attending guests all returned to the Tuileries Palace by carriage.
On the way by carriage to the Tuileries Palace, Jerome Bonaparte gazed at Friedrich Bonaparte cradled in Augusta’s arms, and a thought struck him, prompting him to make a suggestion to Empress Augusta.
"Augusta!"
"What is it?" Empress Augusta looked up at Jerome Bonaparte and asked.
"I have a suggestion, would you like to hear it?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Augusta.
"What suggestion?" Empress Augusta inquired.
"I wish to take all children born on the two days of Friedrich Bonaparte’s birth and baptism as godchildren. What do you think?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Empress Augusta.
"Are you crazy?" Empress Augusta looked at Jerome Bonaparte in surprise.
"No!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and replied to Empress Augusta, "I am not crazy! I believe this is a way for us to connect closely with our subjects!
Now that we are parents, we should set an example in France.
We are not only Friedrich’s parents but also the father and mother of all of France!"
Empress Augusta pondered for a moment and also felt that Jerome Bonaparte’s words indeed made sense.
Thus, Empress Augusta nodded to Jerome Bonaparte and said, "Let’s do it your way!"
When Jerome Bonaparte arrived at the Tuileries Palace by carriage, Mokar hurried to Jerome Bonaparte’s side at the entrance of the palace to open the door for him.
As Jerome Bonaparte got out of the carriage, he immediately instructed Mokar to ensure a news article is published in the next day’s newspaper. The article should state: all children born on the two days of Crown Prince Friedrich’s birth and baptism will become the godchildren of the Emperor and Empress.
Mokar assured, "Rest assured, Your Majesty, I will certainly fulfill this task."
A grand banquet was held in the Tuileries Palace, and it lasted for nearly three hours before it finally concluded.
After the banquet had ended, as Jerome Bonaparte was about to resume his work, he suddenly received a request from Grand Duke Maximilian for a meeting.
"Maximilian!" Jerome Bonaparte paused for a few seconds, then patted his head and murmured to himself, "Damn, I almost forgot!"
"Mokar, immediately escort Grand Duke Maximilian to the study and inform him to wait there briefly!" Jerome Bonaparte instructed Mokar once again.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Mokar nodded and replied to Jerome Bonaparte.
Jerome Bonaparte immediately walked out of the Tuileries Palace and departed once again by carriage.
The carriage took Jerome Bonaparte to the doorstep of a mansion in the Saint-Germain District.
"Wait for me here for a moment!"
After saying this, Jerome Bonaparte proceeded directly to the front of the mansion and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" A voice from inside the mansion responded.
"It is I, Jerome Bonaparte!" Jerome Bonaparte replied calmly.
Hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s name, the mansion doors immediately opened, and an old man with a face full of wrinkles appeared before Jerome Bonaparte. He hastily greeted Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, what brings you here in person!"
"What? Not welcome, Mr. Czartoryski?" Jerome Bonaparte responded with a smile to the elderly man in front of him.
"Welcome, most certainly welcome!" The old man quickly shook his head and warmly said to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, no matter when you come, you will always receive a warm welcome! Every Pole will never forget your contributions to Poland!"
