🕍✨ The Legend of Pope Joan – Truth or Myth? The story of Pope Joan , a woman who allegedly disguised herself as a man and rose to become Pope in the 9th century, has fascinated historians, theologians, and skeptics for centuries. According to the legend , she reigned as John Anglicus before her identity was tragically revealed during a public procession, where she reportedly gave birth in the streets of Rome . While the Catholic Church has long maintained that Pope Joan is a myth, the tale refuses to fade, continually sparking debate about medieval history , gender roles in religion , and Vatican secrecy . 📚🔍 Historical Clues and Literary Traces of Pope Joan The earliest known references to Pope Joan appear in 13th-century chronicles by Dominican monk Jean de Mailly and later Martin of Opava, both of whom place her reign between Pope Leo IV and Pope Benedict III , around the mid-800s. These accounts describe how she became a scholar in Athens , disguised herself as a man, a...