Vision:
I plan to curate an anthology featuring ten stories of Popes behaving badly. The Borgias TV show is well known culturally, but Rodrigo Borgia / Alexander VI was far from the only scandalous Pontiff. I envision each story featuring a different Pope. Those who submit stories about “duplicate Popes” will have to compete both in terms of votes and writing quality to see whose story makes it into the book. Bribing cardinals to be crowned winner is frowned upon. 😉
Length of Stories:
This anthology will feature short stories up to 10,000 words in length each.
Personal Contribution:
I’ll be writing a story about Pope Urban II called Saint Peter’s Sword.
Examples of What I Like:
Fellow SOOP Short Story Idea Author Catherine I. Evans has written a magnificent story called The Serpents of Eden. I’d love to have stories like this in the anthology.
Writing Prompts:
- Pope Julius II (born Giuliano della Rovere and sworn enemy of Alexander VI / Rodrigo Borgia) picked Julius II as his regnal name not in honor of Julius I but in honor of Julius Caesar. Tell a story showing why he was called “The Warrior Pope”.
- Pope Sylvester I occupied the Throne of St. Peter when Constantine the Great ordered the construction of Old St. Peter’s Basilica, the Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, and the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. How could he have possibly convinced Constantine to be so generous?
- Pope John Paul I is known primarily for dying just 33 days into his pontificate prior to being succeeded by John Paul the Great. It’s been widely speculated that “the Smiling Pope” was murdered. After all, he was the first pope in history to add “the First” to his regnal name as if he anticipated his death. Could he have been murdered? If so, why?
- Pope Paul III was referred to as the “Borgia brother-in-law” and appointed his own grandsons cardinals. How was he like Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia)? How was he different?
- Pope Clement VII was a member of the Medici Family and reigned during the Sack of Rome at the hands of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. While his guards fought the Emperor’s men, he escaped to the Castel Sant’Angelo with his life. What did he bring with him from St. Peter’s Basilica? Was it what you would expect of the Vicar of Christ?
- Pope Leo the Great is renown for convincing Attila the Hun to stand down and spare Rome from his wrath. How could he have done this? Was it more tricks of men than the power of God?
- Pope Leo X stacked the Sacred College of Cardinals with his own cronies, naming 31 new cardinals at one time. What was he afraid of? Why did he have to have so many yes men?
- Pope Innocent VIII, immediate predecessor to Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia), kept the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire locked away for a fee. How could a man called “Holy Father” be so cruel?
- Pope Pius VII allowed Napoleon to crown himself Emperor of the French using a tiara containing jewels stolen from his predecessor. How did Napoleon pay him off to allow this disrespect to the Papacy?
- Pope Sixtus IV is perhaps most famous for commissioning the Sistine Chapel, but he also founded the Vatican Archives. Could he have been searching for long lost information when he founded this vast library?
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