Papa Emeritus III, or "Terzo" (Italian: "Third"), was the third frontman of Ghost during the Meliora and Popestar cycle from 2015-2017; as well as the ultimate, unsurpassed, utmost kazoo master. He was played by frontman and founding member Tobias Forge. His character, as well as the other Papas, have received figurine and merchandise renditions. Although he has been implied to be the son of Papa Nihil most of the time, he has been said to be the brother of him as of recent[1].
Appearance[]
Papa III has two outfits. The first one is his black chasuble with purple lining and the second is a dressed down outfit he would wear during performances and public events. He originally had different facepaint during his debut performance, as he was sent the wrong mask by accident. He used this mask during the first two shows before switching to the more commonly known mask.[2]
History[]
Papa Emeritus II (right) passing the mic to his younger brother Papa Emeritus III (left)
Papa III is the "younger brother by three months" of Papa Emeritus II. He made his live debut on June 3, 2015 at a special show in their hometown of Linköping, Sweden. Papa II passed the mic down to his younger brother, who introduced himself in Italian: "Io sono Papa Emeritus... Terzo." Papa III and the ghouls played four new songs: "From the Pinnacle to the Pit", "Cirice", "Majesty", and "Absolution". "Cirice" also won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2016, and thus catapulted Ghost into the mainstream. Meliora was promoted through the Unholy / Unplugged tour accompanied by two Nameless Ghouls, where he debut his dressed down outfit and played a kazoo during the unplugged version of "Ghuleh / Zombie Queen". They also did a world tour known as Black to the Future.
Papa III in his casual attire
In September of 2016, they released a new song called "Square Hammer" off of their EP Popestar. They embarked on the North American Popestar tour. A year later, Papa III went out on tour with a new group of Nameless Ghouls. They did a European Popestar Tour, another North American Popestar tour, and even opened up for Iron Maiden on their Book of Souls tour.
Sede vacante / Interregnum[]
Papa III being dragged offstage
Papa III's reign came to an end on September 30, 2017, in Liseberg, Gothenburg, Sweden that was the beginning to the first period of sede vacante for Ghost. While the band was performing "Monstrance Clock" during ritual, two men came up on stage and dragged Papa III away, ending the song abruptly. Soon after, two men came up on stage escorting an elderly papa using a cane and an oxygen mask named Papa Emeritus Zero (later known as Papa Nihil) who addressed the crowd: "The party is over. The middle ages have begun", before being escorted off stage. Papa Zero is later revealed as the father of Papa I, Papa II, Papa III, and Frater Imperator. At the end of Papa III's era, the band released the live album Ceremony and Devotion.
In March 2018, he along with his brothers Papa Emeritus I and Papa Emeritus II were killed by their father Papa Nihil, Sister Imperator, and the clergy in the webisode episode "Chapter Three: Back On The Road". They were embalmed and put on display on Ghost's Prequelle, Impera, and Skeletá tour cycle.
Trivia[]
- In an interview with DIFFUS on March 8th, 2025, Tobias Forge hinted that Papa Emeritus III could actually be a half brother to Papa Emeritus II, noting that Papa III's 3 month age gap is possible if there are 2 mothers. During that same interview, it is said that he is the brother of Papa Nihil.
Gallery[]
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