Something funny about tonight's Jeopardy question in the NYT today...

[CTyankee]

category: I'm a Papal Person!"

The name of the pope following the fifth successor of St. Peter named Alexander I.

I "got" the answer but it wasn't the answer as the Jeopardy said...I checked the Catholic Encyclopedia for a chronological listing to see if I was right...but...well, you'll see...

I don't know Popes except for those involved in great Italian art and one of the popes with this name was involved with the commission of famous art...

Anybody figure out the disconnect here?

[sarge43]

1. What was the Jeopardy answer?

Alexander VI (Borgia) was succeeded by Pius III (Piccolomini) who died within a month after his election. He was followed by Julius II (Rovere).

[CTyankee]

7. the Jeopardy question has to do with the first 6 popes.

There was a Sixtus I, which was the 7th pope (hence my confusion).

There were later popes named Sixtus and it was Sixtus IV who commissioned or built the Sistine Chapel. The name of the chapel means Sixtus. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14032b.htm

[KamaAina]

17. But Sixtus I was the sixth *successor* of St. Peter

hence 'Sixtus'. Did Peter even call himself pope?

[CTyankee]

18. Yes, I read the question wrong...successor to Peter, which is what the pope represents...

[malthaussen]

2. Who did they say it was?

Not like there's anything tricky here, like trying to sort out antipopes and Babylonian Captivities.

Cute that it was Sixtus, but since he's actually Seventhus, doesn't quite make it.

-- Mal

[pinboy3niner]

3. You can get the answer, but most sites will charge you--and they don't take credit cards

They only accept Papal.

[malaise]

6. Bwaaaaaaaaaaah hahahahahha

[CTyankee]

8. So do you know what's the deal with this Jeopardy question?

[malaise]

20. No but I get the Paypal joke

[CTyankee]

21. well, it's like the old comedy routine...

who's on first
what's on second
I don't know is on third

[malthaussen]

10. You keep inSistine that.

But it is not a Pope-ular fact.

-- Mal

[CTyankee]

5. It's on tonight...the Jeopardy clue is in the weekday NYT...so we make our guesses at breakfast!

And you are right about Sixtus being seventh but the clue clearly states it is the pope who followed Alexander I. That is the source of my confusion

[malthaussen]

9. Sixtus I followed Alexander I.

I don't understand your confusion.

Peter, Linus, Anacletus, Clement I, Evaristus, Alexander I, Sixtus I.

Alexander I is the fifth successor of Peter (thus sixth Pope), Sixtus I is the sixth successor of Peter (and thus seventh Pope).

-- Mal

[CTyankee]

12. I obviously misread. The key is "successor to" and NOT the "next".

I get it now!

[pinboy3niner]

14. My head is spinning...

...and I'm just glad that I'm not a contestant on Jeopardy tonight.

[CTyankee]

15. I'll bet they'll get it from the way they mention the "fifth" successor.

Even without knowing the exact order, the name Sixtus implies he's the sixth, which would be "next" after Alexander I.

It's all a plot to drive us crazy. Except for Malthaussen who is a big smart-pants!

[pinboy3niner]

16. If that's the case...

...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

After reading all of this I still can't tell my sixtus from my seventhus..

It would be much better if all of this was illustrated with Renaissance paintings.

[CTyankee]

19. My excuse is that I wasn't brought up Catholic...

but I shudda known the difference. I'm an idiot.

[pinboy3niner]

22. No, it's not you

Hell, I was raised Catholic and I don't know this shit. The only way I'll know what's going on is to watch Jeopardy tonight (or consult malaise afterward ).

[pinboy3niner]

4. When I want to know what happened on Jeopardy...

...I just ask malaise.

[pinboy3niner]

11. Oh, I see--this hasn't aired yet

So we won't know until tonight what Jeopardy considers the correct answer. Right?

[CTyankee]

13. yup.

Malthaussen straightened me out since I misread the sentence. They were asking the successor to Peter which puts Sixtus at 7th place in a chronological list of popes. Hence my confusion.