[James Langham]

This is the background note from my history:

The Vatican and the Papal State
Joseph Stalin was once told that the Pope would be upset by an action retorted “how many divisions does he have?” In this he was correct that the papacy (the world's smallest country) had little military power. What he overlooked was the influence that was held over church members.
When the Sino-Soviet War erupted the Pope tried to act as an intermediary. Links with the Orthodox Church were used but little was achieved. As the conflict spread to Europe the Catholic Church had more of an influence with the Poles in particular (Poland was the only Pact country that had a military chaplains department). Nothing was achieved but many worried Poles seeing the Polish Pope trying to promote peace turned to the church for solace. The strain of all the effort (including flights to Washington and Moscow) was too much for the ailing pope. In 1996 as a fake alert of a nuclear attack resulted in his flight by helicopter to the papal retreat at Castle Gandolfo, he suffered a major heart attack (the 1982 bomb shelter was not felt to be secure enough unless evacuation was impossible in the time available). Despite the best efforts of his doctor and the escorting Swiss Guard (including an ex-special forces medic) he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
With the death of Pope John Paul II, the conclave met to elect a new pope. After much debate the compromise candidate Italian Cardinal Camilo was elected Pope. Taking the name Pope John, he considered his position. A conservative theologian he was a practical man who had spent much of his early pastoral work in the rural parts of Italy. In his youth he had been called up by the army and had spent six months fighting in Russia before a leg wound sent him home. Feeling that the Church needed to act decisively he took the opportunity to act when the nuclear exchanges devastated Italy. Appealing to the remnants of the police and military to join him, he also expanded the Swiss Guard (an offer many Swiss were eager to accept). This force was one of the few organised groups in central Italy. Combined with the network of small churches, monasteries and nunneries which form the backbone of a welfare state, the Vatican easily fills the power vacuum.
Using the Church network the Vatican had developed an excellent intelligence network (in particular the Jesuits were active in this). Hit by the communication difficulties of the present this network is less effective as information is difficult to get back to the centre. This is balanced by an ease of gathering information as most priests and many lay members feel a loyalty more to the church than state (especially in these troubled times when life is short and brutal).
Portrayals of Pope John provide an interesting contrast. To supporters he is seen as a stabilising influence on a shattered world and a leader of one of the few places where order can still be found. To detractors he is portrayed as an opportunist militarist who is betraying the spiritual legacy of the Church for temporal gain. His quiet non-public life prior to becoming pope leads to much discussion as to his character.
He has since coming to power spoken out against the Communists and in particular the Italian government. Critics have said that this is purely an attempt to discredit his biggest rival for power (indeed many Italians have flocked to his banner), others however have suggested that this is due to his service in World War Two.
His long term goals are also unknown. At present he controls the central part of Italy centred around Rome. Movement north would gain control of the more industrial Po region (although it has been thoroughly devastated) whilst movement south would probably bring conflict with the Mafia. What is known is that the French have offered him a home in France but as yet no response has been made to these offers.
As an interesting aside rumours persist that the body of Pope John Paul II has been returned to his home county of Poland under the escort of a select team of Papal Guard. It is unknown if this rumour is accurate.
At least one alternative Pope with a reasonable claim is known to exist. This is Pope Alexander who is currently based in France. He claims that the election was flawed as few cardinals from places such as South America could get to the election in time and that this was his main block of supporters. The French have carefully trod a line that means they back him without offending Pope John (at least until the results of offering him a home are apparent. Other popes are known to exist but none have any real claim to legitimacy.