Pope Adian V — Walking With Dante Across His Known Universe

PURGATORIO, Episode 156. The Loneliness Of Pope Adrian V: PURGATORIO, Canto XIX, Lines 127 - 145

Pope Adrian V ends his discourse in a strange way: seemingly piqued at the pilgrim Dante before he sounds a note of loneliness, even alienation. Perhaps this loneliness is what avarice does to a soul. Or perhaps it’s what exile has done to Dante.

Mark ScarbroughMarch 16, 2025Purgatorio XIX, Purgatorio, Purgatory, Popes, Pope Adian V, The terrace of the avaracious, The terrace of avariceComment

PURGATORIO, Episode 154. A Pope In Purgatory For (Surprise!) Avarice: PURGATORIO, Canto XIX, Lines 91 - 114

Dante the pilgrim gets Virgil’s okay to address one of the penitents on the fifth circle of Mount Purgatory. The pilgrim then finds himself standing over Pope Adrian V, the first pope we meet in PURGATORIO. Or at least it’s Adrian V as far as the Dante the poet is concerned . . . but maybe not as far as history is concerned.

Mark ScarbroughMarch 9, 2025Purgatorio XIX, Purgatorio, Purgatory, Popes, Pope Adian V, Dante's theology, The terrace of the avaracious, The terrace of avariceComment