As the doctrine of the Church of Light spread widely throughout the kingdom, the ecclesiastical power held by the Pope had, imperceptibly, eclipsed secular royal authority. Whether in mobilizing the faithful or in overall influence across the realm, the Church now far outstripped the king.
When the nobles rose in rebellion within the kingdom, the Pope of Light Hebrew was fully capable of unleashing the initiative of his followers: he could have ordered believers to persuade the rebels to lay down arms and submit, or simply had the Church's knightly orders join in carrying out suppression.
But when King Velys made such a request, Hebrew refused. He said it ran counter to the doctrine they upheld: changes in secular power should be handled by secular hands. They were God's messengers; Their foremost mission was to spread the faith and save souls, not to seize temporal power.
