A widow in southern France held to her son with such love that she bore a son by him in an incestuous relationship. When the affair became known, the widow was summoned to appear before Pope Urban IV (1261-64) and so she made the trip with her child.
There lived at the papal court at the time a very talented cardinal who believed he was more worthy than the others, and who often disagreed with papal decisions. When the widow arrived in Rome she was by sparing no expense the gain entry to Pope Urban’s palace. By chance the pope was then also entering through the same gate, and with the child on her arm she kneeled before Urban and acknowledged her sin. The pope answered and asked if she would return the next day as other business presently made demands on him.
At a given time, she found her way in and by way of a cleric announced her presence to Urban. He had her told that she should present herself to him undressed in the same way as she was when she sinned. This of course seemed to her an unusual demand; nonetheless she obeyed and appeared in her nightdress, child on her arm, before the pope. Raining tears, she fell at his feet, confessed again and asked for absolution “It shall be granted you immediately”, replied Urban, blessing her and granting her absolution.
The cardinal previously mentioned, as was his manner, expressed his dissatisfaction and the opinion that it would encourage people to sin when such a grave offense could be so lightly atoned. The pope answered that it would be decided immediately if he had falsely dealt with the matter, and beseeched the devil to appear and to possess him if his handling of the matter deserved reproach. Immediately the summoned one appeared, grasped the cardinal and disappeared through the floor.
The widow, very satisfied with the outcome, returned home with her child.