Pope Arles

Biografía

Arles is the Pope of Athena's Sactuary and the main enemy of the first arcs.

About 13 years prior the main events of Saint Seiya, the Pope Arles tried to kill Athena with a golden dagger when she was a baby. However it was prevented by Sagittarius Aiolos. The Pope attacked Aiolos, but he managed to escape from the Sanctuary, leaving Athena and the Sagittarius Gold Cloth to the care of Mitsumasa Kido.

Once the Pope Arles was informed of the Galaxian Wars tournament between the Bronze Saints, and that the Sagittarius Gold Cloth was in the possession of the real Athena, he sent some Silver Saints to kill the Bronze Saints. However, the Silver Saints couldn’t affirm their rank superiority and were defeated by the Bronze Saints.

The Twelve Temple arc spoilers:

[Spoiler] Later, in the Twelve Temples arc, it's revealed that the man who stole the identity of Pope and tried to kill Athena was Gemini Saga. In order to steal the throne and disguise himself as the Pope, Saga killed the previous one, Aries Shion.

From this day onwards, Saga ruled the Sanctuary as the Pope Arles. In his favor, most of the Saints didn't know of Shion's murder and Saga's betrayal. Some of them knew it, but silenced about it.

At the end of the battle of the Twelve Temples, Saga revealed his identity as the Pope to Seiya. It's also revealed that Saga suffered from a split personality disorder: his evil side was dominant, and lead the Sactuary as the Pope Arles. When his good side finally took control of his body, Saga committed suicide in shame. [/Spoiler]