Marcellus IX (c. 1948) was Pope of the Catholic Church in the late 1430s AH, or late 2010s AD.[1] He was a progressive, modern man, at least as much so as one could be when at the head of an ancient organization with a long history of backward thinking. The Muslim world therefore saw him as an important hope for progress and reason in Europe's future.[2] To this end, Marcellus IX met with Khalid al-Zarzisi and Dawud ibn Musa, two government agents of the Republican Sultanate of the Maghrib who'd been sent to help the Vatican and the Grand Duchy of Italy against the Aquinists.[3]
Their initial meeting was cordial, with some moments of tension. Both al-Zarzisi and ibn Musa were unaccustomed to the absolutism that marked Europe, and proved rather flip with their answers. Ibn Musa in particular conceded that they could easily fail to protect Marcellus, but, as a Jew, he preferred Marcellus to the Aquinists. In the end, the group agreed that the Aquinists were a true threat to the world order.[4]
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