Why Pope Joan?

• Published in: The Catholic historical review Vol. 99; no. 2; pp. 219 - 238
• Main Author: Noble, Thomas F. X
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC The Catholic University of America Press 01.04.2013; Catholic University of America Press
• Subjects: Biographies and hagiographies; Biography; Christianity; English; History; History and sciences of religions; Joan, Pope; Language history; Literary studies. Texts. Editions; Mediaeval church; Middle Ages; Motion pictures; Novels; Overall studies; Papacy; Popes; Women clergy; Writers; Middle Ages; Germany; New York; Religious literature; Pope Joan; female clergy; Historiography; Legend; Pope; papacy; Feminism; Woman priest; Ecclesiology; Catholicism; Gender

For 700 years a tale has been told about an English woman who was elected pope in the mid-ninth century. Called Pope Joan, she supposedly was born in Mainz of English parents. Dressed as a man, she traveled to Athens with a lover, acquired an education, moved to Rome, impressed the cardinals (who di...