The Pope's private library and study room, one couldn't simply name a more iconic place for the gatherings of state visits to the Church State which has been an ongoing practice for such a long time that it has been ingrained in the essence of diplomacy between the Holy See and foreign governments. Another meeting would now take place soon with the Republic of Gyeoul, a controversial yet seen as a logical ally and friend to the Ecclesiastical State due to the anti-communist past and the thriving Christian community in said country; The Gyeoulan President, Minister of Commerce and Ministry of Foreign Affairs were to be expected shortly in other words. Alongside
Pope Peter II,
Cardinal Angelo Voiello, Secretary of State,
Cardinal Andrew Dussolier, Secretary for the Economy and
Cardinal Michael Spencer, Secrertary for Ecclesiastical Security, acting as the highest-tiered ministers and closest men, waited alongside their Holy Father to give any assistance and advice if necessary during the bilateral-talks, although the Young Pope was confident enough that their expertise wouldn't be needed as much as required
[1]. According to the schedule, the Gyeoulan guests were to be picked up by an Ecclesiastical convoy heading directly to the Apostolic Palace, situated in the Vatican district of Celestis.
Some time later..."Welcome your Excellencies to the Vatican and the Apostolic Palace...if you could please follow me."
Camerlengo and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran greeted the Gyeoulan guests as they stepped outside their vehicle, after they entered the main courtyard and proceeded through a side entrance leading up to the Private Library and Study. "His Holiness is more than eager enough to finally meet you, your Excellency" Tauran said while adding some info about the Palace. "Construction of the palace itself started in 1589 during the tenure of Pope Sixtus V. The palace is a complex of buildings, with the Papal Apartment, the Catholic Church's government offices, a handful of chapels, the Vatican Museum and the Vatican library. In all there are over 1,000 rooms with the most famous including the Sistine Chapel and its renowned ceiling frescoes painted by Michelangelo, restored between 1980-1990 and Raphael's Rooms."
Pope Peter II was the first to shake their hands as he'd already been standing up alongside the Cardinal Secretaries, "We're so glad for this opportunity to dig deeper into our mutual and beneficial relations, please take a seat my friends" he said, gesturing to a set of chairs and a comfortable yet elegant coffee table where the afternoon's snacks had been prepared for in advance; normally the discussions would start in the opposite side in the room by the papal desk but as they were more than a handful attendees, it seemed appropriate to make such an adjustment. The cameras from the various news agencies flickered intensively before they were finally ordered out of the room for a later occasion. The normal procedures would include a tradition of gift exchange, though the Pope knew one had to warm up with talks.
"I believe Mr. President that the last time you visited us was back in 2005 when our beloved John Paul II was laid to eternal rest, a much appreciated presence and now 13 yrs later, a Pontiff got the chance to meet a Gyeoulan President in his own abode. We got a few topics of discussion which form a proper treaty between our glorious nations most certainly, though do tell me how it fares nowadays back in the Republic, I assume great progress has been continued to be made in the economic, social and military fields?" the Pope asked as his Cardinal Secretaries were busy making any useful notes.