Confusion Over Ordinals
See also: Pope John (numbering)Pope John XVIII was only the seventeenth pope called John, because John XVI (997–998) was an antipope according to official reckoning. His status as an antipope was not recognized at the time, however, so the true sixteenth Pope John called himself John XVII. The true seventeenth pope called John took the regnal number XVIII. The true sequence of numbering has never been corrected.
Read more about this topic: Pope John XVIII
Famous quotes containing the word confusion:
“When heaven and earth were in confusion hurl’d
For the debated empire of the world,
Which awed with dreadful expectation lay,
Soon to be slaves, uncertain who should sway:”
—Lucretius (Titus Lucretius Carus)