GHOST
The time of Papa IV is nigh
Cardinal Copia was anointed Papa Emeritus IV in March last year. Long live Papa IV!
PRESS/RYAN CHANG
It was one of heavy music’s final major live spectacles before the world went to shit. Ghost, playing the final show of the Prequelle album cycle, were midway through a spellbindingly fun set at Mexico City’s Palacio De Los Deportes arena. After beloved doddery luvvie Papa Nihil seemed to be unexpectedly, erm, disposed of following his trademark saxophone solo, a flock of nuns suddenly surrounded frontman Cardinal Copia. A struggle followed, before the mob fled the stage and left a new figure in their wake – strikingly similar to the Cardinal, but bedecked in fancy new robes, a big, flashy Papal hat and some brandspanking new corpsepaint. It was official: Cardinal Copia had been given an upgrade. Papa Emeritus IV was here.