High Priest (The Rising of the Shield Hero)

The High Priest, also known as the Pope in the Web Novel, is a major antagonist in The Rising of the Shield Hero web novels, light novels, anime and manga. He is the leader of the Church of the Three Heroes and the main antagonist of Devil of the Shield arc. He also serves as the main antagonist in Volume 4 and the third-quarter of the anime.

He is voiced by Takayuki Sugou, who also voiced Hundred-Faced High Priest Chaos, Thousand-Faced High Priest Gaos and Zangetsu.

Personality
At first, the Pope/High Priest seems to be a peaceful and kind individual, but deep inside, he has a twisted and fanatic personality alongside a deep God Complex. He will preach and believe anything for his convenience.

When his religion begins to be questioned, the Hight Priest begins to claim that the heroes to be fake and shows his true nature. He reveals himself to be a fanatic just like his staunch followers. He was willing to do anything to defend his preaching, even if it means framing the Three Heroes his religion worships. He would make ambitious plans that would heavily affect the kingdom.

The High Priest used his deep connections in the nation to do away with any opposing authority in the kingdom. He was so narrow minded that he calls all of his actions "the will of God." He also claims that his followers who died in the fight against the Shield Hero to be a gifted by being able to go to Heaven.

When wielding the replica of the legendary weapons, the High Priest proclaimed himself to be God and any one opposing him as evil. After seeing his followers constantly rising from the defeat and pain, Naofumi suspects the High Priest of using some sort of brainwashing magic on them and using them for his convenience.

In the manga, the High Priest is even worse than the original Web Novels, as he attacks a village that was already devastated by the acts of its racist mayor who unleashed a monster on the town because he gets called out on his hypocrisy by Naofumi.