Papa Emeritus IV

Papa Emeritus IV (formerly Cardinal Copia) is the fourth and current frontman of Ghost. He is stated to be the first frontman to not be a part of the Emeritus bloodline, though it is heavily implied he is the bastard son of Papa Nihil and Sister Imperator. Currently, only one album has had him as frontman, Prequelle, though this will soon change with the release of Impera. He is played by frontman and founding member Tobias Forge. This is the first character Tobias has played since his identity was revealed.

Appearance
Like the Papas before him, Copia is played by Tobias Forge, wearing a custom-made mask by Jerry Constantine. Some fans have speculated that his mask in particular is inspired by the face of late American actor Vincent Price due to their similarities.

His mask has medium-length black hair with a horrendous hairline, usually combed back (although initially combed to the side, please don’t ever do that again) and prominent sideburns, alongside a pencil mustache. His first official appearance featured him in a black Cardinal outfit with an accompanying hat. His face paint, unlike previous frontmen of the band, was minimal, only covering his eyes. This denoted his junior status and that he was yet to "deserve his skull paint". He has also been stated as being "the more limber of all of [the Papa's]". Copia has several outfits: He has a cassock and accompanying biretta that comes in both black and red variants, a black and red dressed down outfit, and a similar white tuxedo that comes with a hat. Occasionally, he wears a cape alongside his black dressed down outfit. Once anointed Papa Emeritus IV, his appearance changed yet again. His minimal facepaint is now gone in place of the more extensive and "traditional" skull facepaint of the Papas before him, and he has now earned a new blue papal gown and mitre. All his outfits so far have been designed by B. Åkerlund and produced by Majesty Black.

In the chapter Tomb It May Concern, Papa IV undergoes yet another change alongside Sister imperator-- both reveal they have had a "two-for-one" plastic surgery. Amongst the changes in facial structure, Papa's mustache and sideburns are noticeably gone, and his temples have grayed.

History
Cardinal Copia was first teased in January 2018, when Ghost's official Instagram page uploaded a video of an unseen man (now known to be Cardinal Copia) playing an 8-track of Ceremony and Devotion. He was officially introduced in April that same year in the second Prequelle chapter, The Cardinal, in which he is anointed the new frontman of the band by Papa Nihil.

On March 3rd, 2020, in the last show of the Pale Tour Named Death, Cardinal Copia was anointed Papa Emeritus IV.

He is currently on tour alongside Volbeat from January 25th to March 3rd across the U.S. Soon after, he is expected to tour with the rest of the band in the upcoming imperatour in 2022 to support the upcoming album Impera, which is expected to release March 11th.

Trivia



 * Papa IV has the most extensive wardrobe of any Papa to date.


 * According to Sister Imperator, Papa IV has the second most Employee of the Month awards.
 * The character of Cardinal Copia has been foreshadowed as far back as 2016. In the music video for Square Hammer, there is a brief shot of a Northern Cardinal perching atop a tombstone--the red bird, of course, symbolizing the Cardinal.
 * The song that played during Papa IV's coronation is "Arrival" by ABBA.