Pope Sergius II. (played by John Goodman) is a protagonist in Pope Joan.
The reigning Pope who suffers from gout. Johanna cures him with herbal remedies, earning his trust as personal physician and Nomenclator. He confronts King Lothair I but is assassinated by Anastasius. His death triggers the papal election where Johanna is acclaimed as his successor. Johanna von Ingelheim (played by Johanna Wokalek) is a protagonist in Pope Joan.
The film's protagonist, born a girl but raised and later living as a man named Johannes Anglicus. Highly intelligent, she becomes a renowned physician in Rome, is acclaimed as Pope, implements charitable policies, and is appointed head of the papal army. Her reign ends when she gives birth, leading to her death. Gerold (played by David Wenham) appears in Pope Joan.
A noble Count who takes adolescent Johanna into his home and falls in love with her. He later serves under King Lothair, returns to Rome, and recognizes Johanna. Appointed head of the papal army by Pope Johanna, he is assassinated by Anastasius's conspirators during the Easter procession. Village Priest (played by Iain Glen) appears in Pope Joan.
Johanna's authoritarian father, a village priest who initially opposes her education. He secretly allows Aesculapius to teach her. Later visits the Fulda monastery, discovers Johanna's true identity, and dies of a stroke during the confrontation. Aesculapius (played by Edward Petherbridge) appears in Pope Joan.
A scholar and teacher who visits Johanna's village. Recognizing her exceptional scriptural knowledge and intellect, he secretly educates her against her father's wishes, introducing her to classical literature like Homer's Odyssey. Bishop Arnaldo (played by Suzanne Bertish) appears in Pope Joan.
Anastasius (played by Anatole Taubman) appears in Pope Joan.
A political ally of King Lothair I. He orchestrates the assassination of Pope Sergius II to seize the papacy himself. Later leads a conspiracy that kills Gerold and forces Johanna into childbirth, resulting in her death. He briefly succeeds her but is deposed and exiled, erasing her from history. Abbot of Fulda (played by Christian Redl) appears in Pope Joan.
Pope Joan (2009) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Pope Sergius II.
(played by John Goodman) — protagonist
The reigning Pope who suffers from gout. Johanna cures him with herbal remedies, earning his trust as personal physician and Nomenclator. He confronts King Lothair I but is assassinated by Anastasius....
Johanna von Ingelheim
(played by Johanna Wokalek) — protagonist
The film's protagonist, born a girl but raised and later living as a man named Johannes Anglicus. Highly intelligent, she becomes a renowned physician in Rome, is acclaimed as Pope, implements charita...
Gerold
(played by David Wenham) — supporting
A noble Count who takes adolescent Johanna into his home and falls in love with her. He later serves under King Lothair, returns to Rome, and recognizes Johanna. Appointed head of the papal army by Po...
Village Priest
(played by Iain Glen) — supporting
Johanna's authoritarian father, a village priest who initially opposes her education. He secretly allows Aesculapius to teach her. Later visits the Fulda monastery, discovers Johanna's true identity,...
Aesculapius
(played by Edward Petherbridge) — supporting
A scholar and teacher who visits Johanna's village. Recognizing her exceptional scriptural knowledge and intellect, he secretly educates her against her father's wishes, introducing her to classical l...
Bishop Arnaldo
(played by Suzanne Bertish) — minor
Anastasius
(played by Anatole Taubman) — supporting
A political ally of King Lothair I. He orchestrates the assassination of Pope Sergius II to seize the papacy himself. Later leads a conspiracy that kills Gerold and forces Johanna into childbirth, res...
Abbot of Fulda
(played by Christian Redl) — minor
Richilde
(played by Claudia Michelsen) — minor
Johanna von Ingelheim - Age 10-14
(played by Lotte Flack) — supporting
The adolescent portrayal of the protagonist. During her time in Dorestad, she is taken in by Count Gerold, survives a Viking massacre that kills her brother Johannes, and subsequently flees in male di...
Johanna von Ingelheim - Age 6-9
(played by Tigerlily Hutchinson) — supporting
The childhood portrayal of the protagonist. Grows up in Ingelheim, secretly studies the Bible, demonstrates superior academic ability compared to her brother Johannes, and flees home at night to pursu...
Canonical Relationships
Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.
Abbot of Fulda → Johanna von Ingelheim - Age 10-14
(Professional Monastic Authority)
Johanna enters the Fulda monastery of Benedictines while living under the male identity Brother Johannes Anglicus.
Johanna von Ingelheim → Gerold
(Romantic Lovers)
Gerold recognizes Johanna in Rome and reveals his desire for her, while she is torn between her identities.
Pope Sergius II. → Johanna von Ingelheim
(Professional Patient And Physician)
Johanna cures Sergius's gout with herbal remedies, after which he makes her his personal physician and Nomenclator.
Richilde → Gerold
(Family Wife)
Richilde is identified as Gerold's wife while he is away at war.
Johanna von Ingelheim - Age 6-9 → Johanna von Ingelheim - Age 10-14
(Temporal Earlier Self)
The plot presents the two listed versions as childhood and adolescent portrayals of the same protagonist.
Aesculapius → Johanna von Ingelheim - Age 6-9
(Professional Teacher)
Aesculapius recognizes Johanna's superior understanding of Scripture and teaches her, including literary works such as Homer's Odyssey.
Village Priest → Johanna von Ingelheim - Age 10-14
(Family Father)
The same village priest later visits the monastery and believes the disguised Johanna is his son Johannes.
Story Dynamics
Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.
Pope Sergius II. → Anastasius
(related)
Bishop Arnaldo → Johanna von Ingelheim
(Narrative Historian)
Many years later, the story of the female pope becomes known through Bishop Arnaldo.
