(OOC: To take effect after the reunion has been completed, but I think it'd be best to speed things up a little. After all, we are all agreed that the Arch-Patriarch should be Kalopian, Theognosian, and taking the name Justus XI, and I think also that he'll be played by me)
Habemus Archipatriarchem: Justus XI
The new Arch-Patriarch, Cardinal Frangiskos Pneumadoulos, is a former Theognosian, but took his name to honour the Selucian Arch-Patriarch St. Justus III
Empyrean City, Auroria, Selucia - Following a surprisingly quick Conclave, white smoke was seen in St. Michael's square as the Faithful gathered for the traditional ritual surrounding an Arch-Patriarchal Conclave. Not soon after, it was announced through the time-honoured traditional formula, delivered by the Cardinal Archdeacon, that the Cardinals had elected as the first Arch-Patriarch following the Church's reunion the Kalopian Archbishop Frangiskos Pneumadoulos, and that he had taken the name Justus XI. The new Arch-Patriarch, before giving his first Archipatriarchal blessing to the gathered Faithful, greeted them in Selucian, Canrillaise and in his native Kalopian, a sign of unity. Uniquely, he asked them to mix before the blessing: "the Church is reunited once more. Therefore, let's take a little time before we pray for God's blessing. Consider moving around the Square a little until you're in the middle of people who do not speak your language, who have been raised in a different tradition. Then you'll realise, as I have and as all the Fathers of the Council have, that Faith is a universal language." Having waited a few minutes, during which the crowd moved slightly, he started his first blessing.
The new Arch-Patriarch's first act in his office was not entirely unexpected to those who know him. Though staunchly in the Augustan rite tradition of the Theognosian Church, Cardinal Pneumadoulos had become increasingly enthused by the cause of reunion between the two Aurorian Patriarchal Churches. Though he was born after the Council's first phase, one of his great teachers in seminary was Archbishop Christophoros of Helios, who attended and said in his memoirs to have been much moved by the events there. As a monk in the Augustan tradition, he devoted much of his time to reading the theologians of the other Patriarchal branches, a characteristic that was no doubt a factor in his appointment as Apostolic Delegate for the Theognosian Arch-Patriarch to heavily Selucian Patriarchal Egelion. Many who are close to the new Arch-Patriarch say that he became convinced through his cordial relations with the hierarchy there that a new attempt at reunion was possible and would in the end succeed.
The first few days of the Conclave, insiders in the Conclave had noted that the presence of a faction pressing for a Selucian Arch-Patriarch, whereas another favoured a Canrillaise candidate had deadlocked the Conclave. Then (some rumours say after supernatural signs), it is said that Cardinal Pneumadoulos emerged as a compromise candidate to lead the new Church by a growing faction who wanted a quick election. The 71-year old Kalopian prelate, though Theognosian, is not part of the main Canrillaise Theognosian rite, but hails instead from the Augustan Church. His diplomatic reputation as a bridge-builder will no doubt have helped secure his election. He reaffirmed this reputation by taking the name Justus XI, after St. Justus III, the former Selucian Arch-Patriarch who is honoured alongside the Theognosian Saint Pius II as the patron of the Church's newfound unity - a move which many say was taken to underline that he wished to be an Arch-Patriarch for all of the Church's 980 million faithful adherents.
The new Arch-Patriarch, who has already as his first official act ratified and promulgated the Apostolic Constitution of the Second Council of Auroria, Gaudent Pii Omnes, is expected to appoint new members of the Aurorian Convocations soon to assist him in the completion of the new Church's reunion.