Sorry, I did not read this article —yet—, but I really think that you are onto something, and I have something to share that may reinforce your story.

I live in Catalonia (Europe), and it had a hard impact from the Roman Empire. I often like to go to Girona, and the surrounding area, on holiday. And I also have family and friends, specially in the zone of the Costa Brava.

It turns out, that there are a lot of remains of the Roman Empire, and recent history, of many ages. I have a route that I often like to do:

• Starting in Banyoles, where there is a pre-historic wooden town saved in time thanks to a flood.
• Then Ullastret, there are the remains of a fortified Iber town, that according to history it was abandoned to go to live with romans (there are more, but this one is impressive)
• Then L’Escala, more exactly, the Ruins of Empuries —that also has one of the best beaches of the zone—. And this location is impressive: two cities, one Greek, and another Roman —if you ever visited it, there are the theatrical visits that are remarkable—.
• But it does not stop here, Besalu for example, and several other towns, are the remains of big roman “ranches” that “survived” the end of the Roman Empire itself.
• And finally, Girona, jewel of the crown, and star in Game of Thrones —the city of Braavos and the cathedral used for the Great Sept of Baelor in King’s Landing—. It preserves all the magic of the medieval era, including the “Calls” (Jew neighbors), Baths, etc.

But there was something that stroke me: the Girona cathedral it was in the same place that a temple when Girona was Gerunda, a Roman city. Which makes evident that through history, things are recycled once and once again.

So, thinking about that, I just thought, that nowadays, the current Vatican and the old Roman Empire share:

• The capital: Rome (even the main buildings)
• The official language: Latin
• The government structure: the Pope/the Emperor
• The Pope/Emperor turnout: for all live
• The Pope/Emperor election: when the title was not inherited, it was elected by the pontiffs/senators, …
• Lots of Churches/Embassies to control/rule over other realms.

(I am doing it basically by memory of what I learned decades ago, I may have some inaccuracy, sorry for that)

Is it crazy to think that the Christian Church is the remaining of the Roman Empire? I do not think so. Organizations tend to perpetuate, and if necessary, to reinvent themselves. If they cannot rule directly, they may choose to rule indirectly, even though, in the medieval ages, rulers had powers because of the church…

So, what do you think?