'Pope Joan' (La Papessa)
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Rachel Harriette Busk
Roman Legends: A Collection Of The Fables And Folk-Lore Of Rome
Estes And Lauriat, Boston
1877
Italy
Pope Joan (La Papessa): disguise, forbidden ambition, gender concealment, papacy, deception, scandal, transgression, fate, exposure, legend
Public Domain (copyright expired)
n/a
'Pope Joan' (La Papessa)
'You know, of course, that there was once a Papessa? They have put that in the books, I suppose?'
'I know there is such a story, but learned writers have proved it was a mere invention.'
'Well, I daresay it isn't true; but there's no one in Rome who has not heard of it. And what makes them believe it is this. Outside of St. Peter's somewhere there's a statue of her all among the apostles and saints; and they say it's because a Pope must have a statue, and they didn't dare to put hers inside the church, so they put it up outside. And if it isn't a Papessa, what is a woman's statue doing there, for it wasn't the Madonna, that's certain?'
'Oh! that's a statue of Religion, or the Church. There never was a woman-pope.'
'Ah, well! you read books. I dare say you know best; but, anyhow, that's what they say. And, after all, who knows!'
Folktales, Fairytales, myths, legends, stories, fantasy