Pope Joan

1

His Eminence, Arnaldo,

Bishop of Paris.

Eminence,

everything is prepared.

Take all the time you need.

When you're satisfied,

we will gladly bind it for you.

Thank you.

How could it had been otherwise...

that a woman had once occupied

the Papal Throne...

was a disgrace to the Church.

Of course, Johanna was not mentioned

in the Chronicle of the Popes.

But was there truly to be no trace

of her existence?

Was she to be banished

from history altogether?

A woman

who had accomplished so much?

The first day of Johanna's life

was the last of Charlemagne's.

They called him "the Great" but in

the eastern part of the Frankish Empire,

in former Germania, people had

terrible memories of the emperor...

and his soldiers, who fought the heathen

faith for years with flame and sword.

But now, people had enough difficulty

just surviving the winter.

- What're you doing, woman?

- This will ease her pain.

The word of our Lord:

"In sorrow shall thou

bring forth children".

Then I need your help.

We don't have much time.

That's women's work,

- lowly and unclean.

- Then your wife will die.

That rests in God's hand,

not mine.

It will be difficult raising two boys

without their mother.

What do you want me to do?

Sit behind her...

support her back.

Now take this cloth.

Pull to one side!

Push! Oh my goodness.

It's a girl. Healthy and strong,

by the look of her.

A girl!

She will be named Johanna.

Five years later

Johanna was a gifted child,

and she had a clear mind.

Her hunger for knowledge

was insatiable.

In spite of her youth, she had an

innate wisdom way beyond her years.

- Do you know its name?

- Marigold.

And what does it do?

Helps us when we have a stomachache

or when we cut ourselves.

Very good, little quail.

You learn quickly.

So father will teach me too?

We should get dinner ready.

Right away!

No. Beneficium. Do you know the difference

is not between a "b" and a "d"?

Keep trying Johannes.

Father will be back soon.

I cannot do it.

- What does it say?

- The psalm "Confitebor".

Confitebor tibi Domine

in toto corde meo

mirabo omnia mirabilia tua.

- Where did you...

- I've been listening.

I want to read Psalms too... and write.

Will you teach me?

I cannot do that, little sister.

- Why not?

- Father would never allow it.

Why not?

Because it is forbidden for girls.

It would be blasphemy.

And because girls cannot learn

to read and write, just like mother.

And just like you.

Please Matthew.

I won't tell.

You are a wonder, little sister.

And you know what you just wrote?

Lord, thy grace reaches

as far as the heaven,

and my truth

as far as the cloud.

St. Catherine would be

very proud of you.

Who's that?

She lived centuries ago in Alexandria.

Even though she was a woman,

and still quite young,

she was learned and wise.

Tell me more about her!

Catherine was a king's daughter.

Among the pagan Romans,

she dared to become a Christian.

How far you know, Johannes?

Why the heathen chose to

not convert to Christianity?

They must, or they'll all be killed!

Only you should give them the time

to make up their mind.

Where were we?

- Sword?

- Rumpia.

- Heart?

- Cor.

- Knowledge?

- Scientia.

- Holy Bush?

- Even you don't know!

Ah... Help!

Tell me that story again,

of our origin.

Although he was already very wise,

Odin always sought more knowledge...

So, he came

to the well of wisdom.

But the giant Mimir, guardian

of the well, told Odin:

"Wisdom is always born with pain"...

Please don't stop.

In return for a drink from the well,

Mimir demanded one of Odin's eyes.

Odin gave up one of his eyes,

drank from the well...

and past his knowledge on

to mankind.

To girls as well?

If father will let me learn

to read and write,

maybe Odin will

share his knowledge with me.

How dare you?

You are back already, husband?

Under this roof! How dare you

pray to your pagan gods?

The child was frightened. So I told her

a harmless story.

Harmless?

You call such blasphemy "harmless"?

- Please don't, father!

- Get up and out of here!

Go. Quick, you go.

Heathen creature!

You renounce Satan? Hmm?

- In words! Say the words!

- I renounce Satan.

And his evil and all the

temptations of evil!

No. No. No!

You say the words again!

- To the outside, quick!

- You say the words!

Why? Why?

Father forbade mother

to worship a heathen god,

and in the Bible, it says:

"Woman must obey their husband".

But in the Bible it also says

"Love is patient. Love is kind.

Love knows no anger".

I have read it myself.

And if father ever finds out

you would be next.

Keep praying, my son,

for God will heal you.

Think of the honor that

will soon be yours...

going to a cathedral school.

God intends for you to be

a scholar and a priest.

You must be strong for Him.

You have to get well again.

Who else is going to teach me?

There is not much more

I can teach you, little sister.

I have something for you.

- Turn it around.

- "Saint Catherine of Alexandria".

You are sisters in spirit.

She will guide you,

like a sister.

Tell me child, do you know where

the priest's house is?

- Yes, Sir.

- And who are you, industrious girl?

I'm his daughter, Johanna.

God be with you, Johanna,

my name is Aesculapius.

I would very much like to

speak with your father.

Your coming here shames me, Sir.

You are the school master,

I should have served you well.

I thank you, Sir. And your wife,

and your children.

The Bishop has told me

of your misfortune,

and that you'd now like to send your

second son to the cathedral school.

Johannes is a worthy replacement

for his brother. He's a smart boy.

Eager to learn.

To meet such children makes the

long journey worthwhile.

Though, I was disappointed

not to find any works by Plato.

Plato?

His works are hardly approved

for study for a Christian.

So you don't find any significance

in his works?

Faith is grounded on the

authority of the Holy Scripture,

not on the writings of philosophers.

But you have to admit

our ability to think rationally...

is... God-given.

From Him alone.

Then why are you fear to expose faith

to the light of reason?

Since God Himself gave us reason,

how could it lead us from Him?

Does fear of logic

show a lack of faith...

in God's omniscience

and his love for mankind?

A solid faith need have no fear,

because if God exists, logic...

can only take us to Him.

Cogito, ergo Deus est.

I think, therefore God exists!

Johanna felt the truth

in Aesculapius's words.

"I think, therefore God exists".

And she knew her father was wrong.

Her love of knowledge was

neither sinful nor unnatural.

It was God's gift

to mankind.

Johanna had blamed herself

for Matthew's death.

Now she knew her desire to learn

had not cost him his life.

Matthew died because no one

knew how to help him.

She understood then and there

that it was her duty

to expand her knowledge and to put

her abilities to work for the greater good.

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