Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Testicular Inspection?
(3)
As the recent cogitations in Rome concerning the next pope proceeded, I wondered about a little known allegation which I read in The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets: There was once a female pope named, Joan. She had 'scammed her way into the Papacy' somehow. She was stoned to death when her sexual scam was discovered.
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'Whether Pope Joan really existed or not, a curious Vatican custom arose in the wake of her legend. Candidates for the papacy had to seat themselves naked on an open stool, to be viewed through a hole in the floor by cardinals below. The committee had to make its official announcement: 'Testiculos habet et bene pedentes.' ('He has testicles and they hang alright.') It seemed important that 'Holy Mother Church' must never be governed by a 'Holy Mother.'
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Quoted, of course, from my edition of TWEMS. Question: Did the new pope actually have to undergo this 'inspection?'
As the recent cogitations in Rome concerning the next pope proceeded, I wondered about a little known allegation which I read in The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets: There was once a female pope named, Joan. She had 'scammed her way into the Papacy' somehow. She was stoned to death when her sexual scam was discovered.
----------
'Whether Pope Joan really existed or not, a curious Vatican custom arose in the wake of her legend. Candidates for the papacy had to seat themselves naked on an open stool, to be viewed through a hole in the floor by cardinals below. The committee had to make its official announcement: 'Testiculos habet et bene pedentes.' ('He has testicles and they hang alright.') It seemed important that 'Holy Mother Church' must never be governed by a 'Holy Mother.'
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Quoted, of course, from my edition of TWEMS. Question: Did the new pope actually have to undergo this 'inspection?'
