Frater Imperator

Frater Imperator
Papa Emeritus IV
Cardinal Copia

Aliases

"Cardinal Copia"
"Papa Emeritus IV"
"Cardi C"
"Cardi"
"C"
”Popia”
"Copia"
"Boyo"
"The Anointed One"
"Darling" (by Marika Psaltarian)
"Boss"

Relatives

Papa Nihil (Father)
Sister Imperator (Mother)
Papa Emeritus I, Papa Emeritus II, Papa Emeritus III (uncles or possible brothers)
Papa V Perpetua (Fraternal Twin-Brother)
The Twins (Maternal Aunts)
Marika Psaltarian (Aunt]
Mr. Psaltarian (Uncle)

Affiliation

The Clergy

Biographical information

Date of birth

1970

Physical description

Species

Human

Gender

Male

Eye color

Green (Right) White (Left)

Frater Imperator (formerly Papa Emeritus IV and Cardinal Copia) was the fourth frontman of Ghost, his cycle lasting from April 6, 2018 to September 11, 2023, being the longest of any frontman. He is stated to be the first frontman to not be a part of the Emeritus bloodline, though it is confirmed that he is the bastard son of Papa Nihil and Sister Imperator in the band's debut film "Rite Here Rite Now". He was the frontman for two albums, Prequelle, IMPERA, and one EP, Phantomime. Currently, his role is as the Head of the Clergy. His character, as well as the other Papas, have received figurine and merchandise renditions.

Appearance

See also: Frater Imperator/Gallery

Frater Imperator is notable for being the first (and currently only) Papa to be frontman for more than one studio album, starting with Prequelle and Impera. As such, his appearances have changed a considerable amount between the two cycles and beyond.

Prequelle Cycle (2018 - 2020)

Like the Papas before him, Cardinal 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, although Tobias himself has said Copia is a "mix of Dracula and Jacques Clouseau"^[1]^[2]^[3].

His mask has medium-length dark brown hair, usually combed back (although initially combed to the side) 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"^[4]. He has also been stated as being "the more limber of all of [the Papas]"^[5].

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 chasuble and mitre, along with a black cope (an ornamented liturgical cape). All his outfits so far have been designed by B. Åkerlund and produced by Majesty Black.

IMPERA Cycle (2020 - 2023)

In webisode episode "Chapter Nine: Tomb It May Concern", Papa Emeritus IV is presented with a brand new mask made by Andrew Freeman, alongside with Sister Imperator who is played by a new actor. This drastic change in appearance for both characters is explained in-universe as 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.

During the Pre-Imperatour, he revealed a brand new set of clothes including but not limited to: rat-bitten pants with a blue/red/gold/pink sequin jacket with a prominent "Fuck You" patch, as well as a Victorian and steampunk inspired military outfit. During "Year Zero" and "He Is", he wore a flowy papal gown and cornette, with a stole vestment adorned with a variation of the Grucifix logo. There is also a more "official" blue Papal gown that is heavier in material. In the Imperatour, he continues using the aforementioned clothing alongside his blue chasuble.

Outfit after being promoted to the title Frater Imperator.

Time as Frater Imperator (2023 - current)

Since being promoted within the Clergy, his outfit has changed. Within Rite Here Rite Now's end credit scene, after taking the new position, Frater Imperator notably now wears a black suit with a gold chain connecting his black outerwear, with only his lip and eye makeup. A Grucifix also hangs from the connecting chains, making an ornate attire.

Personality

As of current, Papa Emeritus IV is the most fleshed out Papa in the Ghost universe with the most comprehensive observable personality, which itself might be due to him being a part of a bigger, more defined storyline within the band's lore. While previous Papas had personalities and backstories only hinted at in interviews and as throw-away lines during live shows, Papa IV's character is shown front and center in both live shows and in the mini webseries that the band first released at the beginning of the Prequelle cycle. Papa Emeritus IV has been known to be a goofy, awkward character that is a bit inappropriate. He likes to travel the Ministry halls on a tricycle (made apparent in "Chapter Seven: New World Redro")^[6], has knowledge of many movies ("Chapter Twelve - Ghost Goes Hollywood"), likes playing video games and dislikes doing tax receipts ("Chapter 16: Tax Season")^[7]. During live performances, he often interacted with the crowd and liked to be funny. He would notably talk about "tickling taints" before "Mummy Dust", tease the crowd before the encore, and had many other onstage moments with the Nameless Ghouls. He is mildly intimidated by Psaltarian and tries to befriend Papa Nihil despite his slight dislike for him at times.

History

Sometime in 1970 (fictionally), Sister Imperator had him alongside his fraternal twin brother Papa V Perpetua in the United States. After she struggled to raise the two, they were entrusted to be taken care of by their aunt Marika Psaltarian. Sometime during their very early years, Perpetua was removed from Marika's care, leading him to not know of his twin brother. After many years, he would have joined the Clergy at one point and started out as a Cardinal, garnering the "second-most employee of the month" awards. His involvement in the band would not be revealed until January of 2018, where a 22-second clip from Instagram gives a small preview to Cardinal Copia trying to play Ceremony and Devotion^[8]. However, he is not officially revealed until April of that year, where he appears in webisode episode "Chapter Two: The Cardinal". He meets Sister Imperator and Papa Nihil, of which are his superiors. After discourse between the two, he is eventually inducted as frontman of Ghost to take on singing duties. His first live performance was a private acoustic show the same evening in Chicago^[9]. He debuted live to fans during the Rats! On The Road Tour in May, in which the album Prequelle was released on June 1st.

He continued alongside the Nameless Ghouls, and the A Pale Tour Named Death began in September as the Chapter episodes shed light on his awkwardness and tense relationship with Nihil. During this tour, Papa Nihil would join the band on stage to play the saxophone during "Miasma". At the last show of the tour in 2020, Cardinal Copia was anointed to Papa Emeritus IV while Nihil died during his saxophone solo and became a ghost. In "Chapter Nine: Tomb It May Concern" in September of 2021, it is revealed that him and Sister both received plastic surgery as she misspoke about being his mother during a Doom call, stirring theories online. With his new promotion to a Papa, he began performing during the Imperatour, with his second album, Impera, coming out on March 11, 2022. During the Chapter episodes, he meets Mr. Psaltarian as tension grows within the Clergy due to tensions of a "change". On May 19th of 2023, the EP Phantomime was released. Before the performance on September 11/12 in 2023, Papa Emeritus IV learned of his mother and fatherly relation to Sister and Nihil. During the live performances on that night at the Kia Forum, Sister and Nihil kept trying to ease him into the idea of change, insinuated his role would be terminated and he would end up dead like the previous Papas. However, this was disproven and he was promoted to the Head of the Clergy as Frater Imperator because of Sister's passing, leaving the role to him. This would not be confirmed until June of 2024 with the debut movie Rite Here Rite Now.

Due to this change within leadership, the slot for frontman was left open. However, Sister and Nihil had already pre-chosen the new Papa before Frater's promotion. It was not until March 5th when his brother Papa V Perpetua would be unveiled in the song "Satanized". In "Chapter 20: Arrival Of A Secret Agent", Frater's opinions on Perpetua were made apparent, having massive dislike towards his fraternal twin brother. He had shown evident irritation, feeling as if he was "demoted" due to no longer being the frontman. His birth history was confirmed by the "Sister Imperator" comic series, with all issues released by June 11, 2025. In later Chapters, he agrees to meet his fraternal brother and struggles with being the new Head of the Clergy, but ghostly sister reassures his worries and gives him newfound motivation to take charge during the Skeletá era.

Trivia

Frater Imperator has the most extensive wardrobe of any Papa to date.
Evaporated milk is currently Frater Imperator's best-loved drink at this moment in time.
Tobias has stated that he was initially not fond of Copia's character^[10]^[11], but grew to like him over time^[12]^[13].
Frater Imperator prefers that the socks stay on^[14].

According to Sister Imperator, Frater Imperator had the second most Employee of the Month awards when he was a Cardinal.
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.
He is the first character Tobias Forge has played since his identity was revealed.
Frater is Latin for "brother".