When he heard that request, he understood the pope's intention. It seemed that he had understood that there was no guarantee in the future battle.
Theo had stated that even he didn't know whether he would survive or not.
The pope took this seriously. If there would come a time when his power would be needed in order to not lose, he would be the first one to sacrifice his life for the sake of the human race.
Without him, the church would be weakened, especially with the problem of his successor.
On the other hand, if the human race managed to defeat their enemies, Theo would surely gain immeasurable strength and influence. It should be enough to help Erica.
That was why he could clearly see it. The pope was planning to use his life to pave the way for his students.
Remembering that request, Theo couldn't help but smile. He didn't know why, but the curse that he uttered that day flashed in his mind.