My husband says he read somewhere there was once a female Pope. Is this true?

Question

Don't call my husband a liar you cheap hussy!
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/doubleissue/mysteries/pope.htm

Answer 1

Yep-- It was Pope Joan!

URL below!!
~~~~~~
Pope John VIII

“Whenever you see a legend, you can be sure,
If you go to the very bottom of things, that you will find history”
Vallet de Viriville



Born in Britain 818
Studied philosophy in Athens
Moved to Rome and entered the priesthood
Gained reputation as a brilliant scholar and won a university chair
Appointed a Cardinal by Pope Leo IV and upon his death in 853 was elected Pope.
This is the brief history of POPE JOHN VIII


POPE JOAN ruled the Roman Catholic Church from 853 to 855.
Pope Joan had a private chamberlain named “Florus”.
One day, while “On Procession” down one of the streets of Rome,
she gave birth prematurely to their son!

The citizens of Rome were so enraged at the deception
– John was in reality Joan –
that they tied their Pope to the tail of her horse and dragged
her through the streets of Rome.

They then stoned her and her infant son to death.

The next day a “monument” to the event, a pile of stones,
was erected on the spot the Pope “dropped” her baby.
The monument remained until the following Pope got tired
of having to detour around “the embarrassment”.

The history of Pope John (Joan) has been acknowledged by over
150 church historians of the Middle Ages.

To “cover” history Pope Leo’s death was moved back two years to 855
by the Vatican.
Ever since the death of Pope Joan all of the candidates for Pope
have had to submit to an examination to insureThe candidate is
a man – not a eunuch, and not a WOMAN.
This "examination" done on a special chair was not discontinued until
Pope Pius XXIII was enthroned.

Pope Clement VIII, in the 17th Century, ordered all records of
Pope Joan destroyed.
He realized that if the Papal chain were broken it would destroy
the myth that claims that the Papalhood descended from St. Peter
to the current Pope in an unbroken line.

If the line is broken the whole project is a sham!

In 1886 Greek author Emmanuel Royadis was excommunicated
for writing his book “Pope Joanna”.
( 1998 research indicates that in all probability the “man” known in history as
“The Englishman – John of Mainz” was indeed a SHE )

Bibliography;
Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 98
www.historyhouse.com/stories/joan.htm
Pope Joan: A Novel by Donna Woolfolk
Vancouver Sun article by Nancy Knickerbocker June 26, 1982


In the year 1965 I, Donald F. Dutkowski, was walking the streets
of Rome with a Doctor Arduini.
We came upon the intersection where the “monument”, the pile of stones
once stood.
This born in Rome, Roman Catholic, told me the story of Pope Joan.

This FACTUAL EVENT lives on in the memory of the citizens of Rome!

Answer 2

I've heard it too.

It happened several centuries ago; a woman disguised herself as a man, became a priest in the Catholic church, and rose up through the ranks of the clergy until she eventually became the Pope. Upon her death, when they're were preparing the body for funerary rites, it was discovered that she was actually a woman. It was quite an embarrasment to the church.
After that, you may have heard, the church began this tradition where a newly selected Pope was required to sit on this seat with his pants down. The seat had this hole in it, kind of like a toilet. Then someone else would reach in through the back and feel to make sure that the new Pope actually had a man's genitalia, therefore ensuring that the new Pope is actually a man. I don't know if they still do it this way, but I'm pretty sure they do something that makes a new Pope prove he's really a man.

Answer 3

Yes. Sometime in the 13th century, there have been rumors of a woman who disguised as a man and became a pope for a short time. She was discovered when she gave birth to a pretty little girl while leading a procession in Rome. Of course, the Church covered it up. But is the story really true? It's not impossible.

Answer 4

Yes, its true. My fiance knows the history of it, although there is alot of Cathiloc cover up with it. When he gets home from work, I'll ask him again about it, but YES its true. They did not know she was a female, until after she was put in. She masqueraded as a male. I will edit my answer when I get the info from him, he has researched it.

WhynotaskDon has it right. The "chair" thing was interesting, its the ont thing I specifically remember about what my fiance told me. That, and the way she was killed.

Answer 5

Not a pope, a prophet. Her name was Debbie. She was a prophet during the time of King, oh I forget his name, in ancient times. Many of her prophecies were taken down by the scribes. By day she prophesied and by night she entertained at her villa outside Jerusalem. She was also rumored to be involved in many real estate deals of the time, which isn't exactly what prophets do.
If your husband can't keep popes and prophets straight, he should watch the history channel, sometimes they have programs about this.

Answer 6

There was a myth about a "Pope Joan" I don't think we'll ever know if it's true or not because the CAtholics will deny it forever regardless of the truth.

Answer 7

No, there was never a female Pope. I wouldn't believe everything you read, if I were you.

And why is it bad for someone to call your husband names -- but it's okay for you to call that person names? The words "two wrongs don't make a right" leaps to mind.

Answer 8

no this is not true, just a story made up with no substance behind it . they were referring to a article about "pope joan ?'
but it is not true. you can get the truth at any library, under "the history of pope's".

Answer 9

I think the pope's "special" ordination chair says it all. It happened and they wanted to prevent it from happening again.

Answer 10

There never has been, nor will there ever be a female Pope. Definitely not true.