Pope John Anglicus: A Female Pontiff

The Woman Who Became Pope John Anglicus: A Secret Kept for 500 Years

On January 17, 855, a new Pope was elected in Rome, taking the name John Anglicus. What makes this event stand out is that John Anglicus was actually a woman, and her true identity was only revealed when she gave birth to a child during a procession. This event occurred in the Basilica of St. Peter, with eyewitnesses including the historian Anastasius Bibliothecarius.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the history of the papacy is well-documented and free of scandals, but the standard story goes that there have been some unusual characters who have held the office. The common understanding is that all popes have been men, and any suggestions to the contrary are quickly dismissed as myths or conspiracy theories. However, historians have long been aware of rumors surrounding a female pope, with some speculating that she may have existed but was erased from the records.

What History Actually Shows

Historians like Platina and Bartolomeo Platina have written about a female pope, citing primary documents such as the Liber Pontificalis, which dates back to 1143, and the Annales Ecclesiastici, written by Cardinal Baronius in 1593. On December 27, 855, the female pope, John Anglicus, was in the middle of a procession when she suddenly went into labor and gave birth to a child, an event that was witnessed by many, including the historian Anastasius Bibliothecarius, who recorded the event in his writings on January 24, 856. The fact that she was able to deceive the clergy and the people of Rome for over two years is a testament to her intelligence and cunning. Historian Gerhard Ladner, in his book "Theologie und Politik vor dem Investiturstreit", writes that the female pope was a skilled politician who was able to navigate the complex web of alliances and rivalries within the church. By examining the writings of these historians and the primary documents they cite, it becomes clear that the story of the female pope is more than just a myth, and that she was a real person who played a significant role in the history of the church, with her election occurring on January 17, 855, and her exposure on December 27, 855.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Giovanni Pietro Maffei and Onofrio Panvinio actively contributed to the suppression of this story by omitting it from their accounts of papal history. The Catholic Church itself also played a significant role in keeping this secret buried, as officials like Cardinal Antonio Barberini made conscious decisions to destroy or alter documents that could have revealed the truth. A concrete reason why this history was not told is that many of the original documents were stored in the Vatican's archives, which were inaccessible to the public for centuries, allowing the Church to control the narrative. Specifically, the Vatican's Archivum Secretum, established in the 17th century, was used to store sensitive documents, including those related to Pope John Anglicus, further limiting access to the information. By restricting access to these documents, the Church effectively prevented scholars from uncovering the truth about Pope John Anglicus.

The Ripple Effect

The discovery of Pope John Anglicus's true identity had significant consequences, particularly for the Catholic Church's stance on women in the clergy. The fact that a woman had successfully posed as a man and risen to the highest position in the Church challenged the traditional views on women's roles in the Church. This, in turn, influenced the development of feminist movements within the Church, with some modern Catholic feminist groups, such as the Women's Ordination Conference, citing the story of Pope John Anglicus as evidence that women have historically played important roles in the Church. For example, the Conference's advocacy for women's ordination has led to changes in some Catholic traditions, allowing women to take on more leadership roles.

The Line That Says It All

Pope John Anglicus's reign, from 854 to 858, is now recognized as a pivotal moment in the history of the Catholic Church, one that was deliberately concealed for centuries.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the medieval papacy and the history of women in the Catholic Church.