The Holy See (Latin: Sancta Sedes, "holy chair"), the central government of the Roman Catholic Church, formed a group of religious institutions in the wake of the Eighth Lateran Council of 2372, through Pope Joseph III's Apostolic Brief "Ex militantis Ecclesiae lux".
The immediate task of this thirtieth eucumenical council by Roman Catholic reckoning was to discuss the emergence of the ESP phenomenon, as well as the ongoing diaspora of humanity and the way this affected the Church' apostolic duties. It published several decrees, of which the aforementioned Apostolic Brief was the most important, outlining the creation of five institutions whose duty it would be to establish due order amongst espers, to foster an understanding of the relational nature between human beings and their emerging gifts, and to provide a spiritual basis to support and strengthen the individual's ascetic effort and the spiritual growth that was required for the fulfillment of the divine grace.
Two of these institutions were broadly martial in focus, whereas the other three had a more traditional monastic focus. All five however have played a significant role in the diaspora and the ensuing hyperspace age. Because of the unique position of the Holy See within the United Nations of Earth and Nova Terra, that is as a "Non-member State having received a standing invitation to participate as observer in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly and maintaining permanent observer mission at Headquarters" rather than a full member, the Church is rather more free to act outside the UN sphere of influence than any member state proper. Because of this peculiarity of galactic law, as well as because of the Church' immense network of local patriarchates, archdioceses, missions and vicariates, the Holy Father and his agents often find themselves acting as proxies of the UN, trying to defuse sticky situations in which the UN cannot or will not involve itself directly.
Order of Saint Michael the Archangel
The Order of Saint Michael the Archangel (Latin: Ordo S. Michaelis Archangeli) is a catholic religious institute consecrated under the patronage of the archangel Saint Michael, among whose four main roles or offices in the Roman Catholic Church are those of guardian of the Church, and supreme enemy of Satan and the fallen angels.
Mission
From its foundation in the 24th century, members of the Order were dedicated to two ideals: aid those who are suffering, and the defense of the Christian faith in the chaotic turmoil of the Diaspora. At its founding the Order adopted the Rule of St. Augustine, proscribing a mixed religious life of contemplation and apostolic ministry. It went on to found a series of hospitals, convents and safe-houses across Known Space that cared for espers and laity both. Its members also regularly act as guardians and custodians of other Catholic and even secular institutions in Wild Space and beyond.
Although the Order has garnered a reputation a a military order it is not, in fact, comparable to the societies of knights or warrior-monks of Medieval times. Many of its friars are army-trained, but the founding principles of the Order explicitly state that its members may only act with violence in self-defense, and under no circumstances are to open hostilities themselves.
Authority Structure
The Order of Saint Michael is a mendicant order of friars, whether professed or novices, and members of the secular fraternities, led by a Prior General. He is assisted by an inner council and several Fathers Provincial, who head the order in specific geographic provinces, and are chosen by the Prior General. The fathers provincial have authority over all members and ministries in their area, and are assisted by a socius, who acts as a secretary and chief of staff. With the approval of the Prior General, the father provincial appoints a rector master to oversee the organization of local houses of the Order.
Because of its apostolic task the Order of Saint Michael is under direct governance of the Holy See itself, and thus falls under the Congregation for Institutes of Apostolic Life and its Cardinal Prefect, who is a member of the Roman Curia under the Pope. The headquarters of the Order, its General Curia, is in Saint-Michel, the capital city of Arconada, a planet in the UN core. This is also the location of its Mother Church, the Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel, a basilica minor of the Roman Catholic Church. There is a chapel dedicated to the Order in the Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran.