The Secret of The Papal Throne

We all know that all popes in the history were men, right? Not exactly. Find out one of the best kept secrets in the world of Catholicism.

On the papal throne in the 9th century sat a woman! Yes, you have read it correctly. This is what a Roman Catholic Church is trying to hide at all costs.

All 266 head of the Roman Catholic Church were men. However, in the Middle Ages, there was a story about one that was actually a woman. This legend of so called woman pope still lives.

The earliest written source about the Pope Jovana can be found in a document "Chronica universalis Mettensis", from the 13th century. Author of this interesting chronicle was Jean de Maya.

According to the information given by the author, there was a Pope who is not listed on the list because the Pontiff was in fact a woman- it was the Pope John VIII.

Although De Maya writes how the extraordinary intelligence and many talents allowed this woman to sit in a chair the Council.

The story about this unusual Pope expressed Dominican inquisitor Etienne de Bourbon who in his "Small Chronicle" first spoke about the details of her death. Bourbon wrote a version of events according to which she publicly gave birth right in the street what is actually revealed her true identity, or gender.

It is believed that she was buried in the place where the birth took place, and that is the location that is now visited by those who believe in its existence and martyrdom.

Stoning as punishment

As punishment, she was tied to horses who had dragged her through the streets of Rome as she was stoned by the angry mass.

The best-known version of the story, however, comes from a part of "Chronicle of popes and emperors," which was written by a priest of the Dominican order Martin Polonius.

Because he was highly respected and had a big credibility in the Vatican, Martin’s work has become extremely popular and copied. Unlike other testimonies of Pope Jovana, Martin gave a vivid biography of a female pope and in fact the, he was a person who first mentioned of the name of Pope John.

Besides revealing of her true identity, Martin Polonius stated and other previously unknown details. According to the story, Papa John was English, was born in Mainz, and reigned two years, seven months and four days.