Um Papa Mulher? A História e a Lenda da Papisa Joana

Summary

The script explores the legend of 'Papisa Joana,' a medieval tale of a woman named Agnes who allegedly disguised herself as a man, rose to the papacy as Pope John VI, and was later revealed to be a woman during childbirth. The story, though widely circulated and even depicted in art, is considered historically inaccurate, with its origins likely stemming from political rivalries or debates about women's roles in the church. The script delves into various hypotheses about the story's origin and its significance in reflecting societal attitudes and church politics of the time.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script discusses the grammatical formation of the feminine form of 'Papa' in Portuguese, which is 'papiza', and questions the historical existence of a female pope.
• 👁️‍🗨️ The story of 'Papisa Joana' is explored, a tale of a woman named Agnes who allegedly disguised herself as a man, became a pope, and was later discovered and executed.
• 🏛️ The script mentions various historical sources that recount the story of Papisa Joana, with the earliest dating back to the 13th century by Jan de Mei.
• 🕰️ There is a significant time gap between the supposed events of Papisa Joana's reign in the 9th or 10th century and the first written records from the 13th century.
• 🤔 The reliability of the sources is questioned, as they are not only late but also contradictory and dependent on each other, casting doubt on the historical accuracy of the Papisa Joana story.
• 📜 The script highlights that the 'Chronicon Pontificum et Imperatorum' by Martinus Polonus is particularly interesting but also problematic due to its late appearance and inconsistencies.
• 💡 Three main hypotheses are presented to explain the origin of the Papisa Joana legend: a metaphorical 'womanly' Pope, influential women behind the papal throne, and rivalries between Western and Eastern churches.
• 🔍 The motivations for spreading the Papisa Joana story are examined, including polemics between Roman and Oriental Catholics, internal church disputes, and debates on women's roles in the church.
• 🗣️ The script notes that the story was used by critics of the papacy, including early Protestant reformers, to challenge the institution and its traditions.
• 📉 The credibility of the Papisa Joana story declined over time, with both Catholics and Protestants eventually dismissing it as a legend rather than a historical fact.
• 📚 The script concludes that while the story of Papisa Joana is not historically accurate, it is historically significant as it reflects the social and religious debates of the times.

Q & A

What is the origin of the word 'papisa' in Portuguese?

The word 'papisa' in Portuguese is derived from the root 'pap', which refers to 'pope', and the feminine suffix 'isa', resulting in 'papiza'. This is similar to how 'profeta' becomes 'profetiza' and 'sacerdote' becomes 'sacerdotiza' for feminine forms.

Why is the term 'papisa' historically significant?

The term 'papisa' is historically significant because it is associated with the legend of Pope Joan, a story about a woman who allegedly disguised herself as a man and became a pope.

What historical evidence is there for the existence of Pope Joan?

The earliest sources mentioning Pope Joan date back to the 13th century, with the 'Chronica Universalis' by Jan de Mailly being one of the first. However, these sources are considered unreliable and late, with a significant time gap between the supposed event and the first records.

What are the inconsistencies in the historical accounts of Pope Joan?

The accounts of Pope Joan are inconsistent in terms of her name, the time period of her alleged papacy, and the details surrounding her death. Some sources do not even mention her name or the cause of her death.

Why do historians generally consider the story of Pope Joan to be a legend rather than historical fact?

Historians consider the story of Pope Joan to be a legend because the earliest sources are from centuries after the supposed event, they are contradictory, and they lack independent corroboration.

What is the 'Chronica Universalis' and why is it significant in the context of Pope Joan?

The 'Chronica Universalis' is a text written by Dominican Jan de Mailly around 1250. It is significant because it is one of the earliest sources mentioning a female pope, referred to as 'papissa', but it does not provide a name or specific details.

What is the 'Chronicon Pontificum et Imperatorum' and how does it differ from other sources about Pope Joan?

The 'Chronicon Pontificum et Imperatorum' is a text by Martinus Polonus, a Dominican bishop. It differs from other sources as it provides more details, including the name 'Pope John VI' and specific events, but it is also considered less credible due to its late composition and inconsistencies.

What are some hypotheses about the origin of the Pope Joan legend?

There are several hypotheses, including a misinterpretation of Pope John VI's conciliatory actions, influence of powerful women like Theodora and Marozia in the papacy, and rumors about women infiltrating the church hierarchy due to disputes between Western and Eastern churches.

Why did the story of Pope Joan gain popularity and persist over time?

The story of Pope Joan gained popularity and persisted due to various factors, including polemics between Western and Eastern churches, internal church disputes, debates about women's roles in the church, and its use by Protestant reformers to criticize the papacy.

How did the perception of the Pope Joan story change over time?

Initially, the story was used to criticize the papacy and discuss women's roles in the church. However, by the 16th and 17th centuries, both Catholics and Protestants began to question its credibility, leading to a decline in its popularity as a historical account.

What is the significance of the Pope Joan story in understanding historical perspectives and debates?

The Pope Joan story, though not historically accurate, is significant as it reflects the social, religious, and political debates of the time periods in which it was told, including discussions about the papacy, women's roles, and church reforms.