There has never been a Pope John XX.

Some 11th century historians believed that there had been a pope named John between antipope Boniface VII and the actual Pope John XV; thus, the series of Pope John XV to Pope John XIX was mistakenly numbered John XVI to XX. These popes have been renumbered as John XV to XIX; however, Pope John XXI to Pope John XXIII were numbered based on the confusion of having twenty Popes John before them. Hence, Pope John XX doesn't exist, having been skipped over in the enumeration of popes, and as the enumeration is now firmly established, it is unlikely that any attempt at rectification will be made. As a means of recording the passage of time, the 11th century was that century which lasted from 1001 to 1100. ... Antipope Felix V, the last historical Antipope. ... Boniface VII (died July 20, 985), who attained the papal chair in 974, is sometimes styled an antipope. ... John XV, pope from 984 to 996, generally recognized as the successor of Boniface VII, the pope John who was said to have ruled for four months after John XIV, being now omitted by the best authorities. ... John XV, pope from 984 to 996, generally recognized as the successor of Boniface VII, the pope John who was said to have ruled for four months after John XIV, being now omitted by the best authorities. ... John XIX, né Romanus (died October 1032) was pope from 1024 to 1032. ... John XXI, born Pedro Julião (1215 – May 20, 1277), a Portuguese also called Pedro Hispano (Latin, Petrus Hispanus), was Pope from 1276 until his death. ... Pope John XXIII (Latin: ), born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli (November 25, 1881 – June 3, 1963), he was elected as the 261st Pope of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City on October 28, 1958. ...

Some have used this discontinuity in numbering as "evidence" that there was a Pope Joan: See myths and legends surrounding the Papacy. The Papess, a Marseilles tarot card of the 18th century, depicts a female Pope. ... The papacy has been surrounded by numerous myths and legends. ...

In the humorous fantasy novel Jurgen, by James Branch Cabell, the protagonist learns of this omission. He gains admission to Heaven by pretending to be Pope John XX, there being no one to contradict him by claiming the title. For other meanings see Fantasy (disambiguation) Fantasy is a genre of art, literature, film, television, and music that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of either plot, theme, setting, or all three. ... Daniel Defoes Robinson Crusoe; title page of 1719 newspaper edition A novel (from French nouvelle, new) is an extended fictional narrative in prose. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... James Branch Cabell photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1935 James Branch Cabell (April 14, 1879 - May 5, 1958) was an American author of fantasy fiction and belles lettres. ... Michelangelos interpretation of Heaven Heaven is an afterlife concept found in many religions or spiritual philosophies. ...

See also

• List of Popes