Pope John VIII ruled for two years. However, while riding one day from St. Peter's to the Lateran, he had to stop by the side of the road and, to the astonishment of everyone, gave birth to a child. It turned out that Pope John VIII was really a woman. In other words, Pope John was really Pope Joan.
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Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
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If the Catholic list of Popes lists Pope John VIII as having reigned from 872-882, how could he/she also have reigned from 855-855? There is one interesting piece of fact, the numbering of the Pope Johns if off by 1. Pope John XXI was called Pope John XX. That adds to the theory of a Pope "Joan", but the time frame is slightly off, isn't it?
Posted by Anonymous on Tue Apr 23, 2002 at 10:25 AM
I became aware of your fantastic web site through the Phantom comics. I recently started to colect them and one story was loosely based on the supposed female pope Pope John VIII. I have since spent many hours reading all of your hoaxs. I'm pleased that you mix it up a little. By that, I mean you have the obvious hoaxs (Loc nes monster, ghosts ect) as well as some less known hoaxs. Also, you've included many internation hoaxs, including Australian hoaxs. I still luagh at our fake Olympic torch. Hehehehehe. Well done on a great site and keep it up.
Posted by Visitor on Fri Oct 03, 2003 at 12:44 AM
She is real because people of her time believed she was real and because the people who tried to hide it( the church) had motive to pretend it was just a legend( it was really embarassing for the church to have a woman pope who had a child)
Posted by michele on Sun Nov 16, 2003 at 01:59 AM
I think Pope Joan did exist. All through history women have made great achievements which have been credited to their brothers, fathers, husbands and sons. The Church would have probably continued to turn a blind eye to the fact that she was in fact female if she had not given birth in the street for all the world to see. Up to this point the Church had been happy with her efforts as head of the Church.
Posted by Micaela on Sun Mar 28, 2004 at 01:45 AM
this is a great story. what about pope benny, (benedict II- 975 a.d.) the alien pope who was widely assumed to be simply sick, and slightly green, by the attending roman curia? when he died (he seemed to be male) they discovered the tentacles and gills under his robe.
Posted by Joseph on Sun Apr 04, 2004 at 04:20 AM
I just recently heard about the first woman who was a pope and this subject greatly interests me. I'd love to learn more about this particular woman. If anyone has any other information on her, please do not hesitate to email me.
Posted by Phyllis in usa on Thu Jul 01, 2004 at 06:59 PM
Hi Phyllis, If you're interested in more info about Pope Joan, I would highly recommend Peter Stanford's book about her. It's titled POPE JOAN: IN SEARCH OF THE TRUTH. It's very well researched, and well written. Plus, it's fairly recent (only five years old). I think it's available on amazon.com. It's definitely available on abebooks.com.
Posted by Alex in San Diego on Thu Jul 01, 2004 at 10:31 PM
I am very interested in the Pope Joan story. I would appreciate any information anyone has. Please email me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Thanks, Marci
Posted by Marci Mathers in Michigan on Tue Aug 24, 2004 at 08:56 AM
Pope Joan is an obvious hoax. The timing is not only off...but the medieval "Papissa" did not appear in any historical archive until 350 years after her alleged existence. Such a furor would've been heavily documented. I think the legend has something to do with the actual Pope John VIII (who reigned much later than the proscribed time) being very effeminate. The legend was also a mockery of the influence of female royalty over the weak Popes. Sure, many medievals believed she was real, due to the fact that the hoaxer was a man of considerable repute. But as evidence surfaced with the coming of critical historical research, the Catholic Church began to deny her existence. Even Protestant historians attest to Joan being a mere legend, so it was no mere one-sided "cover-up". http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08407a.htm
Posted by Jonathan on Tue Aug 24, 2004 at 02:20 PM
Hoax or not, a woman in the line of popes breaks what the Catholic Church urges is a continuous succession of popes from Peter, the Apostile, the first pope down to the present. This break in the papal succession would obviously benefit Protestants by discrediting the supposed authority of the popes. It also seemed to benefit some need of pre-Reformation Catholic clergy. It must be remembered that the Catholic Church was the only Christian religious game in town, and many people with diverse beliefs were obliged to live quietly under its umbrella. Creating or revealing a break in the papal successsion would also benefit these dissenters, if only internally, by undermining the authority of the monolithic institution under which they were obliged to live during the Middle Ages.
Posted by John on Fri Nov 19, 2004 at 03:10 PM
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