I'm trying to find a story about a pope and a bloody slipper

August 30, 2013 8:51 AM

So I remember reading this short story once. It was about the pope and he had some kind of an infected toe. And it made him ornery and unforgiving. And then at some point the toe bursts, he feels better, it bloodies his slipper (which he doesn't change) and then he just starts forgiving everyone and everything. Does this ring any bells for anyone?
posted by rileyray3000 to Writing & Language (4 answers total)

Sixtus VI, Pope of the Red Slipper, by Patricia Highsmith, from Tales of Natural and Unnatural Catastrophes?
posted by misteraitch at 10:54 AM on August 30, 2013 [3 favorites]

Yes yes, that is such a creepy book. I was just thinking about another one of the stories in the book.
posted by mskyle at 1:08 PM on August 30, 2013

Great, great collection - I came in here to name it as well. Nearly every story is a perfect mix of the macabre and social commentary. Death by mass asphyxiation seems to be a recurring theme..
posted by war wrath of wraith at 10:40 PM on August 30, 2013

Response by poster: This is awesome. I just ordered it on Amazon from the link.
posted by rileyray3000 at 2:34 PM on September 4, 2013