Most Divine Grand Synod

The Most Divine Grand Synod is possibly the most powerful body within the Hierarchy, though few realise just how influential it can be.

The Secretary of the Most Divine, currently Cardinal Chester Fulwell, is responsible for keeping the Pope's calendar, and liasing with the Temple Grand Synod to ensure suitable routes exist on the temple ships' timetables. The Most Divine is also responsible for electing a new pope every 40 years.

Among other duties, they are responsible for testing whether a papal candidate (or antipope) is genuinely descended from a previous pontiff. They do this by using a biochemical test (passed down from before the New Dark Ages) for a specific genetic marker, the Divine Genome, which is only present in those born due to Immaculate Conception.