Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, May 7th, 2024
the Sixth Week after Easter
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Bible Dictionaries
Popess Joan

1910 New Catholic Dictionary

Search for…
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
Popes and the Bible, the
Next Entry
Popish Plot
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links

Name given to a legendary character who appeared in histery from time to time as a female pope. The earliest reference by name of this so-called popess occurs in the chronicles of Martin of Troppau, c.1250,but there is no vacant space in the line of popes in which she could be placed, and there are no grounds to support the claim that she existed. The "Liber Pontificalis" does not mention her, and her picture is not included among the papal portraits. The most accepted explanation is that the fable is a survival of a Roman folk-tale.

Bibliography Information
Entry for 'Popess Joan'. 1910 New Catholic Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​ncd/​p/popess-joan.html. 1910.
adsFree icon
Ads FreeProfile