Imagine for a moment someone mentions \u201cPope John XX.\u201d You might instinctively think of Saint John XXIII. But no\u2014this isn\u2019t about Angelo Roncalli. We\u2019re talking about a Pope who\u2014in theory\u2014existed between the 13th and 15th centuries\u2026 yet never actually occupied the Chair of Peter.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This article isn\u2019t a Dan Brown novel or a conspiracy theory. We\u2019re referring to a real phenomenon in the history of the Church<\/strong>: the inclusion, for centuries, of a \u201cPope John XX\u201d who never existed<\/strong>, and how his phantom figure speaks to us profoundly today\u2014in these times of doctrinal confusion, crisis of authority, and an urgent need for spiritual discernment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story of John XX not only reveals human error in a divine institution\u2014it also shows how Truth finds its way even in the midst of shadows<\/strong>, and how every Christian is called to live with open eyes, a firm heart, and faith anchored not in rumors, but in Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story of John XX becomes entangled in one of the most complex periods of the Church: the Great Western Schism<\/strong> (1378\u20131417), when multiple Popes and antipopes<\/strong> vied for authority in the Church\u2014some in Rome, others in Avignon. It was a time of deep division, when the unity of the Mystical Body of Christ was deeply wounded<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During this period, the papal chronology became confused<\/strong>. The chaos of names, titles, antipopes, and legitimate successors of Peter led some chroniclers to erroneously believe that a \u201cJohn XX\u201d had existed<\/strong> in the papal succession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was elected Pope in 1958<\/strong>, choosing the name \u201cJohn XXIII,\u201d he surprised the world. Why not call himself \u201cJohn XXIV,\u201d since a \u201cJohn XX\u201d already appeared in papal lists?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The answer was clear: there never was such a Pope. John XX never existed.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Roncalli publicly acknowledged that, after consulting with historians and theologians, it was confirmed that the inclusion of Pope John XX in the papal lists was a historical error<\/strong>, born of confusion and perpetuated for centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This episode reminds us that the Church is not only divine, but also human<\/strong>. In her visible structure, errors, confusion, and flaws can arise. But despite that, the guidance of the Holy Spirit never abandons the Church<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.\u201d (John 16:13)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Though we as humans err, the Church as the institution founded by Christ remains faithful<\/strong>. Even an error as unusual as a Pope who never existed was ultimately corrected, showing that Truth always prevails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We live in an age of fake news, noisy social networks, \u201cprophets\u201d popping up everywhere, and even theories about hidden or heretical Popes. In this context, the figure of John XX becomes a symbol of the urgent need for discernment and truth<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The historical confusion surrounding his existence pushes us to not believe something just because \u201cit looks official\u201d or \u201cI saw it online.\u201d<\/strong> Faith must be nurtured by truth, not by superstition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The case of John XX also teaches us that acknowledging mistakes does not weaken the Church\u2014it purifies her<\/strong>. When John XXIII chose to ignore the \u201cphantom\u201d and took the name knowingly, it was an act of historical and theological cleansing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Likewise, we must learn to accept our own mistakes, confess them, and correct them<\/strong>. Only in this way can we grow in truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What can this seemingly anecdotal episode teach us for our daily spiritual lives? Much more than it appears.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The story of Pope John XX challenges us to not settle for comfortable or incorrect versions of reality<\/strong>, even within the Church. We must study, form ourselves, ask questions, go deeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read the Catechism, study the documents of the Magisterium, consult reliable sources.<\/strong> Do not leave your faith in the hands of rumors or social media opinions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udccc Daily practice<\/em>: Spend 10 minutes each day studying an authentic magisterial text or solid spiritual reading. Let your faith be grounded, not improvised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If an error like John XX could slip into official records for centuries, how much more easily can error creep into our conversations, homilies, and catechesis today?<\/strong> The devil is the father of lies and uses half-truths to entangle minds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udcd6 Saint Paul warned:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires.\u201d (2 Timothy 4:3)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udccc Daily practice<\/em>: When you hear something that raises doubts (a news item, a doctrine, an interpretation), don\u2019t automatically take it as truth<\/strong>. Ask: Does the Church teach this? Is it part of the Magisterium? Did Christ or the Apostles really say this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The correction of the John XX error was neither scandalous nor violent. It was serene, humble, and clear. We must act the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you see someone believing or spreading errors of faith, help them with charity, not arrogance.<\/strong> Not to humiliate, but to guide. Not to argue, but to heal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udccc Daily practice<\/em>: Look around you\u2014are there confused or misinformed brothers and sisters? Can you recommend a good book, a lecture, a Bible verse? Do it. Truth is charity when offered with tenderness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, we may not face a phantom Pope, but we do face phantom doctrines, hollow spiritualities, soulless liturgies, and cross-less preachers.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The case of John XX is a mirror of what can happen when we allow sentimentalism or confusion to replace Truth.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n But Christ did not found the Church to entertain\u2014He founded it to save.<\/strong> And only those who love the truth, even when it hurts, will find eternal life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a world where everything is questioned\u2014even what is obvious\u2014the story of John XX\u2014the Pope who never existed\u2014becomes a parable for our times<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It reminds us that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Above all, it teaches us that every Christian has the duty to live with open eyes, an enlightened mind, and a firm heart<\/strong>, knowing that only the Truth will set us free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.\u201d (John 8:32)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Lord Jesus, Introduction: A Pope Who Never Was Imagine for a moment someone mentions \u201cPope John XX.\u201d You might instinctively think of Saint John XXIII. But no\u2014this isn\u2019t about Angelo Roncalli. We\u2019re talking about a Pope who\u2014in theory\u2014existed between the 13th and 15th centuries\u2026 yet never actually occupied the Chair of Peter. This article isn\u2019t a Dan …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3659,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[38,48],"tags":[1091],"class_list":["post-3658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-history-and-tradition","category-history-of-the-church","tag-john-xx"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3658"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3658\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3660,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3658\/revisions\/3660"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3659"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\n\n\nI. The History of a Phantom Pope: Where Did John XX Come From?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. The Context of the Great Western Schism<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. An Error Perpetuated for Centuries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nII. Theological Lessons from \u201cThe Pope Who Wasn\u2019t\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. The Church is Both Human and Divine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
2. The Value of Discernment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Humility in the Face of Error<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIII. A Spiritual Guide: Living in Truth in Times of Confusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Seek the Truth, Even When It Hurts<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n2. Discern What You Hear<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\n3. Correct with Charity<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIV. Present-Day Applications: The \u201cJohn XX\u201d of Our Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\nConclusion: The Error That Enlightened Us<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n\n\n\nFinal Prayer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You who are the Incarnate Truth,
deliver us from the lies of the world and the half-truths that obscure Your light.
Give us a thirst for knowledge and discernment in these confusing times.
May we never accept lies, even when they wear the mask of piety.
And may we always seek Your face,
even when it costs us the comfort of error.
Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"