Meet Joan: The Female Pope—Stephen Guerra of the History of the Papacy Podcast

History Unplugged Podcast

History Unplugged

Society & Culture, History

4.2 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 5 June 2018

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

According to medieval accounts, a woman named Joan reigned as pope, 855-857 A.D., by disguising herself as a man. The story is widely thought to be fiction, but almost everyone took it as fact in the Middle Ages, up to the point that the Siena Cathedral featured a bust of Joan among other pontiffs.

Where did the story of Joan come from, what is the purpose of creating this legend, and what narrative function does it fulfill? Moreover, is it even possible that this story is true?

Joining us to dig into the incredibly messy history of the medieval papacy is Stephen Guerra, host of the History of the Papacy podcast. We find out whether a woman ever did wear the papal tiara.

Transcript

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0:30.0	They were some of the most powerful men who've ever lived.
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0:37.0	And yet they were just as human, just as flawed as you and me.
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0:46.0	In each episode of this American president, we explore how flawed men have managed this awesome responsibility.
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1:00.0	Welcome to the history unplugged podcast.
1:05.0	The unscripted show that celebrates unsung heroes,
1:09.0	Mythbust's historical lies, and rediscover the forgotten stories that changed our world.
1:15.0	I'm your host, Scott Rank.
1:24.0	If you want your pick of bad popes in history, there is no shortage.
1:28.0	You could choose Pope Alexander VI.
1:31.0	Part of the notorious Borgaya family where basically the mafia takes over the papacy and the renaissance.
	...

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