We all know the stories of prostitutes that became Queens, Empresses, or of brigands and swine herds becoming Kings, but how many of you have run into the story of a Pope with unsavory outlaw past ?



Welcome to the life of the only Pope, or as better known Antipope John XXIII who reigned as a Pope in Pisa during the Western Schism.His name is Baltassare Cossa born in 1365 - died in 1419.

He was born into a noble family in the Kingdom of Naples, but due to financial adversity became involved along with his 2 brothers in banditry and progressed to piracy along the shores of the Adriatic. His brothers were both executed for piracy by King Ladislaus of Naples.

Batassare survived his life of outlaw and with his earnings from plunder studied law at the University of Bologna with a doctorate in law and canon.

Cossa finally became Pope in 1405 thru 1410, but got deposed by a church council in Constanza with the charges of schism, rape, sodomy, murder.

hmm....