Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
From: Lucrezia III, Queen of Egypt, Duchess of Cyprus, Lady Protectress of the Holy Church in Egypt, Countess of Candia, etc., etc.
To: Our Dear Sicilian Cousin
Your unending affection is joyfully received, and returned a hundredfold. Would that such greetings were sent more frequently; otherwise one might think We were growing apart. It would certainly not do for Our relations with Our beloved cousin to be reduced to merchants' matters and crass financial exchanges.
While the matter of ecclesiastical coordination between the Egyptian and Sicilian congregations does sometimes trouble Us, We cannot say that it has been a matter of undue concern requiring immediate rectification. Nevertheless, loyal followers of the Cross, unbending before the Roman tyrant, must show one another the due respect and courtesy fellow Catholics deserve. We and Our Council of State would personally not betoken such a declaration of submission. But perhaps it is best for the men of God themselves to decide. Ought not the Primate of the Church in Egypt and the Primate of the Church in Sicily, and the due representatives of the congregations of Our two realms, meet in holy council to determine such matters?
Naturally, it was our fallacy to believe that the Egyptian Queen and her Council might assume the same secular lordship over the Church that we ourselves have long had the divine right to possess. Such modesty confirms her orthodoxy, and enhances our pleasure.
We would be pleased to convene such a council on the isle of Jerba in the coming years.