Vanukean elected as Arch-Patriarch for the first timeDespite ongoing concerns about the security of the event, the College of Cardinals has convened in Auroria and elected a new Arch-Patriarch of the Aurorian Patriarchal Church following the death of Benedictus X. In a remarkable outcome the Cardinals have elected the Vanukean Daníl Hnanja, the Archbishop of Vrkzel, as the next Arch-Patriarch. After three days of voting within the confines of the
Empyrean Temple, white smoke rising from the Temple's chimney signalled that a new Arch-Patriarch had been elected.
During a relatively brief presentation at the Archbasilica of Saint Michael, the Arch-Patriarch spoke to the assembled crowd in Selucian and asked that they pray for him and the wider Church at this "moment of adversity". In addition he announced that he would take the archpatriarchal name Thomas Justus, to honour
Saint Thomas the Believer in recognition of his "quiet, knowing restraint" and the first Arch-Patriarch of the reunited Church Justus XI "at a time when unity within the faith is tested". Even though many of the major public events of the conclave were scaled back for security reasons, a large crowd from around the world still made their way to the city for the conclave.
In addition to being the first Vanukean and Jelbic Arch-Patriarch, Thomas Justus' election marks the first time for many centuries that an Arch-Patriarch has been elected from within the Patriarchate of Augusta. Following the
Augustan Rite, the Patriarchate is heavily influenced by the historic
Augustan Church and uses Kalopian as the official liturgical language. In most of the regions under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch, Aurorian populations are a minority.
In the short time since the election took place, some have already cited the fractured
religious demographics of Vanuku (divided between the Terran Patriarchal Church, Israi Ahmadism and Jelbic Shamanism) as a potential reason for the new Arch-Patriach's selection by the Cardinals. In spite of the tight restrictions placed on the election, experts believe that the slightly longer conclave and the selection of an outsider candidate indicates that there was a standoff between two frontrunners. In this context, the Vanukean's commitment to interfaith dialogue and experience dealing with a pagan government may have set him apart.
Prior to the beginning of the conclave, most commentators believed that the new Arch-Patriarch would be the relatively liberal Archbishop of Vinesia Vittore Bellafiore, however it is suspected that Bellafiore may have declined the archpatriarchate. If this were the case it is highly possible that no major candidate would have the support of the necessary two-thirds of cardinals and the clergy may have considered Hnanja as a compromise. Nonetheless he will need to adapt quickly to the office if he is to confront the challenges that the Church continues to face.