At one point in history, there were not only a pope and an antipope, but also a counter-antipope, a period stemming from a complex schism within the Catholic Church.
The Western Schism and Multiple Papal Claimants
The crisis, known as the Western Schism, lasted from 1378 to 1417 and involved three men simultaneously claiming the papacy. It began in 1378 when cardinals who had elected Pope Urban VI in Rome later declared his election invalid and elected Clement VII, who established a rival papal court in Avignon.
In 1409, the Council of Pisa attempted to resolve the schism between Pope Gregory XII (Rome) and Antipope Benedict XIII (Avignon) by deposing both and electing a third pope, Alexander V. However, neither Gregory XII nor Benedict XIII accepted their deposition and refused to step down.
Eventually, Gregory XII resigned, Benedict XIII was deposed, and the council’s third claimant, John XXIII (who had succeeded Alexander V), was tried for various crimes and imprisoned. The schism concluded in 1417 with the election of Martin V as the sole pope.
Sources: Britannica (1); Britannica (2), Britannica (3), Britannica (4)
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
