‘Steampunk pope’ to visit Fairfield for RAGBRAI

By now, most people have heard that Fairfield RAGBRAI 2019 has adopted a steampunk theme. What you might not know is that the festival will be blessed by the one of the most revered figures in the steampunk world, R.J. Lundgren, a.k.a. 'The Steampunk Pope.”

For the past five years, Lundgren has competed in costume contests throughout the Midwest dressed as a steampunk-themed Pope. He's gone to great lengths to beautify his robe, sash and tiara, all of which he made himself from recycled materials such as drapes and tablecloths.

'In steampunk, we recycle as much as we can,” Lundgren said.

Lundgren said the difference between dressing up for cosplay events and steampunk events is that in cosplay, participants are trying to copy a character from a movie or television show. In steampunk, everybody must come up with their own characters.

'Steampunk is all about creativity,” he said. 'We don't want to pigeonhole anybody. We draw from Victorian-era science fiction such as books by Jules Verne and H.P. Lovecraft.”

When in character, Lundgren goes by the name and title 'Steampunk Pope, Brother Barnabas Brass-Boilerplate, leader of MOAB, Mysterical Order of the Aethernaught Brotherhood, Commander of the Brotherhood's Flagship, the

Airship ArchAngel.” He insists that his costume and manners are all in good fun, and is in no way trying to disparage the pope of the Roman Catholic Church. He does not like people to refer to him as 'His Holiness,” since he said that title is reserved for Pope Francis. Instead, he prefers the honorific 'His Radiance,” because steam radiates.

'I avoid using religious symbols on my clothing, because I don't want people to mistake the fact that I'm creating a fictional character,” he said. 'I'm not making fun of any church.”

Lundgren plans to set up his booth, called the 'Papal Pavilion,” Wednesday night on the northwest corner of the square. He's hoping to deliver a non-denominational invocation for the event, though he's not sure if he will get to.

'I want to ask for the architect of the universe to look down kindly upon the attendees,” Lundgren said. 'I'm trying to avoid any specific religious reference, and I think ‘architect of the universe' covers about every deity.”

For a donation, he bestows papal indulgences on people to absolve them of sins such as not lifting the pinky when drinking tea, or forgetting to replace the toilet paper role. He will pose for photographs, and bless bicycles.

History

Before Lundgren was the steampunk pope, he was an 'Irish pope,” decorating his robe and hat (called a miter) with shamrocks. The Irish pope went over so well at festivals that Lundgren sought to duplicate its success with a modified theme. In 2014, he created the steampunk pope outfit for a costume contest at the DemiCon Convention (Des Moines' Annual Science Fiction, Fantasty & Gaming).

Since then, the prominence and popularity of the steampunk pope has exploded. Lundgren has won a couple of contests, and was named the 'Best Entertainer 2019” at the Iowa Renaissance Festival over Memorial Day weekend in Amana. Lundgren said his 'big goal” is to attend the huge steampunk festival in Oamaru, New Zealand.

Lundgren makes his home in Des Moines, where he has lived since moving from the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area in 2011.

He's retired, and enjoys spending time with his three daughters and 11 grandchildren, who keep him busy.

'And yes, I'm the fun grandpa,” he said. 'I've told my grandkids that I've not going to leave them a lot of money, but I will leave them a heck of a legacy.”

Though Lundgren's papal 'blessings” are just for fun, he really is ordained. In fact, he's officiated weddings dressed as the Irish and steampunk popes.

Why does he put so much time and effort into these costumes?

'I want to see people smile, and send them home with great memories,” he said.