Ghost explain what happened to Papa Emeritus IV

Ghost have explained what happened to ‘Papa Emeritus IV’ in a new video teasing the latest era of the metal band.

Back in February, the band teased the name of their “new” frontman as part of the latest evolution of the metal band’s singer.

On February 5, Black Sabbath announced their final-ever live show, which will take place in Birmingham on July 5. The band also announced star-studded opening acts and special guests, which include the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Lamb Of God, Mastodon, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, recent Grammy-winners Gojira and more.

Eagle-eyed fans noticed that the poster of the legendary metal band’s final show featured “Papa V Perpetua” of Ghost among the list of special guests. Ghost later took to their official Facebook page to share a post that read: “[MESSAGE FROM THE CLERGY] We wish to inform you V is coming…To Birmingham on July 5th.”

Very little else was shared. The physical appearance of the new Papa was not been revealed either, however, the band’s post did feature a photo of a black and purple swirled background with the Roman numeral “V” in the centre.

Now, as the new Papa V Perpetua is about to take over, the band have revealed what happened to Papa Emeritus IV.

At the end of Ghost’s ‘Impera’ album touring in 2023, Papa Emeritus IV “retired” onstage after a final performance.

Since the formation of the band, Ghost frontman Tobias Forge has performed under an evolving alias. There has been a new “Papa” to front the Ghost “clergy” for every album the band have released. The new version of the frontman builds on the band’s lore and storyline via Christian symbolism and Biblical references.

Now, in a new video which you can see above, Papa Emeritus’ was revealed in a new chapter titled ‘Arrival of a Secret Agent.’

It’s relayed in the episode that in his post rock band career, Papa Emeritus has now been christened Frater Imperator. It’s revealed that his mother recently passed away and that he’s struggling to cope with the news.

We then discover that, the new Ghost leader, Papa V Perpetua, is Frater’s fraternal twin – something he doesn’t appear to be happy about.

Speaking about the story of Ghost with NME, Alex Ross Perry – who directed the band’s film film RITE HERE RITE NOW – shared: “Ghost as a band is like a planet and the story is like the moon. The moon is not part of the planet, but it orbits the planet. The songs and the meanings are thematically connected to what Ghost are pursuing, but they’re not creating a rock opera about these family dynamics of mothers, sons and fathers. I think for fans, it’s like getting two meals instead of one.”

Frontman Tobias Forge added: “I think the family that we’re talking about, they’re just the manifestation of a very common occurrence within mankind’s struggle to live life. The idea of being fearful of death is very common.”

In other news, Ghost are set to embark on a 2025 world tour later this spring. Check out a full list of dates below and visit here to purchase tickets.

Ghost’s 2025 world tour dates are:

APRIL
15 – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
16 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
19 – London, UK – The O2
20 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
22 – Antwerp, BE – Sportpaleis
23 – Frankfurt, DE – Festhalle Frankfurt
24 – Munich, DE – Olympiahalle
26 – Lyon, FR – LDLC Arena
27 – Toulouse, FR – Zenith Toulouse Metropole
29 – Lisbon, PT – MEO Arena
30 – Madrid, ES – Palacio Vistalegre

MAY
03 – Zurich, CH – AG Hallenstadion
04 – Milan, IT – Unipol Forum
07 – Berlin, DE – Uber Arena
08 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome
10 – Lodz, PL – Atlas Arena
11 – Prague, CZ – O2 Arena
13 – Paris, FR – Accor Arena
14 – Oberhausen, DE – Rudolph Weber Arena
15 – Hannover, DE – ZAG Arena
17 – Copenhagen, DK – Royal Arena
20 – Tampere, FI – Nokia Arena
22 – Linköping, SE – Saab Arena
23 – Sandviken, SE – Göransson Arena
24 – Oslo, NO – Oslo Spektrum

JULY
09 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
11 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
12 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
13 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
15 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena
17 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
18 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
19 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
21 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
22 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
24 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
25 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
26 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
28 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
29 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum
30 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center

AUGUST
01 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
02 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
03 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center
05 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
07 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
09 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena
10 – San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena
11 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
14 – Austin, TX – Moody Center ATX
15 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
16 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center