The scandalous history of Pope Joan: The only woman to become leader of the Catholic Church?

According to later accounts, Pope Joan was a brilliant woman who lived during the 9th century in Rome.

She chose to disguise herself as a man to enter the world of academia, which was forbidden to women at the time.

Apparently, she excelled in her studies and became renowned for her knowledge and wisdom.

Eventually, due to her success, she rose to the highest position in the Catholic Church, without anyone detecting her true nature. 

Ultimately, she was elevated to the position of Pope under the name John Anglicus. 

However, her secret was exposed in a dramatic fashion. During a procession, she went into labor and gave birth, revealing her true gender to the shocked onlookers.

This event led to her immediate downfall. 

The earliest accounts of this story appear in the 13th century, several hundred years after the purported events took place.

The first recorded mention appears in the chronicle of Jean de Mailly, a Dominican monk, around 1250.

This account is frustratingly brief and lacks most of the details commonly associated with the narrative.

It introduces the idea of a female pope who reigned for a short period.  

Following this, the story was further elaborated by other chroniclers such as Martin of Opava, also known as Martinus Polonus, in his 13th-century work "Chronicon Pontificum et Imperatorum."

Martin's account provides much more detail, including her rise to the papacy, and her eventual exposure and downfall. 

There was also the "Chronica Universalis" by Giovanni Boccaccio, which was written in the 14th century.

Here, Boccaccio includes the tale of Pope Joan in his catalogue of famous women, but with no further information than mentioned in earlier authors.

In addition to these written sources, the story of Pope Joan is reflected in a number of artistic representations and popular literature from the medieval period onward.

However, it is important to note that contemporary records from the 9th century, the time when Joan was supposed to have reigned, do not mention her at all. 

As we can see, the historical evidence for the existence of Pope Joan is quite limited.

The most crucial weakness is the fact that the earliest accounts appear centuries after the supposed events took place.

As a result, some historians argue that the absence of contemporary records from the 9th century, when Joan is said to have reigned, is a strong indication that she never existed. 

Also, scholars suggest that the story was actually invented or embellished as a form of anti-papal satire or to promote church reform, rather than recording an actual historical event.  

While there is no official stance from the Vatican on the story, it has been a continued to be cited as source of embarrassment for the Church.

In response, some Church officials have sought to discredit the legend, arguing that it is nothing more than a myth or a product of anti-papal sentiment. 

In the face of these efforts, the story of Pope Joan has persisted. For example, it is said that the practice of using a chair with a hole in the seat, known as the sedia stercoraria, during papal coronations was instituted to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

This ritual, however, was more likely a symbolic gesture of humility rather than a direct response to the Pope Joan legend. 

Ultimately, the popularity of Pope Joan may also reflect broader societal attitudes toward women in positions of ecclesiastical power.

Some people view her story as a symbol of female empowerment, which offers a challenge to the traditional patriarchal structure of the Church.

In addition, the story has been used as a tool for discussing issues of gender equality.