The term “Pope”, used for the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in the world, was originally a title given to all bishops, but today it is used only for the Bishop of Rome. This task, performed by men, has an important place in the religion of Christianity.
So, is the story of Pope Joan, the woman who disguised as a man while all known popes in history were men, true or is it a fabrication? In this article, we explored the incredible story of Pope Joan for you.
Although there are many different sources and rumors about Pope Joan’s life, the most common information is that Joan was born in Germany in the 9th century as the daughter of a family expelled from England.
During this period, many women were easily killed, tortured under the pretext of religious beliefs, and seen as a strong threat to the medieval church.
Realizing the disadvantages of being a woman, Joan started dressing like a man when she was twelve years old, wanting to look like a man. She was also behaving like a boy, she.
He joined them as a man because he wanted to study as a missionary and gave himself the names “Joan of England” and “Joan of Mainz”.
No one could tell that she was a woman, as she wore a large robe and acted just like a man.
Having achieved great success in the monastery, he joined the traveling Christian missionaries and went to Athens. Here he studied religion and philosophy.
At that time, the custom of Athenian Christian clergy to grow a beard and the fact that Joan was actually a woman gave him difficulties. That’s why Joan decided to go to Rome, where being beardless was okay.
Here Joan entered the Benedictine Abbey using the name “John Anglicus”. With his knowledge in various fields and strong human relations, he made friends with the priests and gained a wide circle. Thus, in a short time, his talents were recognized and he became a priest.
Shortly after he became a priest, he was appointed secretary to the Curia, the central administrative unit of the Roman Catholic Church. He later became a cardinal.
Pope IV in 853. With Leon’s death, Joan (John) was elected as the new pope because he was both close to the Pope and was very knowledgeable.
VIII. He began the papacy under the name John and held the office for two years, five months and four days. During this time he contributed to the church through church reforms, peace treaties, and cultural activities.
Legend has it that Joan became pregnant by one of her servants during her mission and managed to hide it for nine months.
It is then understood that Joan, who gave birth to her child, was a woman when she went into labor pains during a religious ceremony held in a cortege outside the Church of St. Peter in 855.
Although it is certain that Joan was killed after giving birth, how she was killed is debatable.
According to some rumors, the cardinals stoned both Joan and her newborn baby to death. According to another rumor, the crowd had her and her baby tied behind horses and killed in the city.
Pope VIII. After Joan’s murder, her name was deleted from the list of popes.
A pope who came to the throne 17 years after Joan and wanted to take the name “John”. In the case of John, VIII, previously removed from the John rank. Since John’s deficiency would be noticed, the number of the previous John (Joan) was taken from the beginning of his name and given to the new pope, and the new pope was again with the same name as “VIII. It was John.
Although it is called a rumor about Pope Joan, the priest Jean de Mally, the priest Martin Polonus and the famous Italian humanist Bocaccio mentioned the woman Pope Joan in their works.
Also, VIII. Joan was buried at the place where she was killed during the ceremony, and a statue representing the mother and child and a tombstone were erected here. On this stone was written “Petre, Pater Patrum, Papisse Prodite Partum” (Father, Father of Fathers, Childbearing Betrayal of a Female Pope), but Pope Pius V, who lived in the late 16th century, removed the statue and tombstone so that no traces of Joan remained. ripped and smashed.
Although he was mentioned as a “rumor” in history, an empty seat was produced after Joan and when the person to be elected pope sat here naked, his testicles began to be checked.
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