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Papa Pater Patrum Pererit Papissa Papellum
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Following story is told in medieval chronicles
With reference to the legendary
Popesse Johanna VIII
- It is stated she was but a rival Pope on the throne,
Not accepted by all contemporaries of her days -
Who had originated from Germany,
Studied in the guise of a male in Athens and
Who had mounted the papal throne, likewise by
Pretending to be a male,
As John VIII in 855 and
Who was lynched and subsequently
Banned into a nunnery
After her giving birth in the streets of Rome
While on a papal procession in 858:
A little devil was seen descending at
The spot of the Pope's delivery of the baby,
And heard blurting out in triumph:
'Papa, Pater Patrum, pererit Papissa papellum'.
('The Pope, Father of Fathers, as Popesse,
gave birth to a small pope')
Eversince that event a new Pope-elect,
Before his inauguration, had been asked
To sit on a chair with a hole in its centre -
The so-called Sella stercoria,
From underneath of which chair a priest would come
To verify with his very hand
The male gender of the new Pope-to-be.
Only after the priest's announcing 'Habet'
(He's got it) was the Pope's election
Considered as valid.
* * * *
a contemporary lithography of the birth-giving Popesse of the year 858 may be viewed at http: //www.webimagesearchengine.com/upload/birth-giving-Popesse-Johanna-VIII-of-858.jpg
Erhard Hans Josef Lang
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Comments about this poem (Papa Pater Patrum Pererit Papissa Papellum
by
Erhard Hans Josef Lang
) |
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comments about this poem (Papa Pater Patrum Pererit Papissa Papellum by
Erhard Hans Josef Lang
)
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Janri Gogeshvili
(4/26/2008 2:07:00 PM) |
Yes, it is History I somewhere has read to the youth, but you so it is figurative and logically tell, that read with interest … thanks …
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