Which pope would you choose? The exciting drama of the 3 popes who reigned at the same time and battled for supremacy over Western Europe in the 15th century

Pope Gregory XI

The cardinals elect a pope and then fire him

Pope Urban VI

Even with the best organization in the world, however, the papacy could not mend its own inner divisions.  These were evident following the death of Pope Gregory XI in 1387.  Now the papacy was back in Rome.  Angry crowds gathered demanding a Roman -- or at least an Italian -- pope.  Eventually the cardinals went along with them by electing Urban VI (1378-89), who soon provide to be too much of a dictator for the cardinals.  Using the disorderly behaviour at his election as an excuse, some of the cardinals gathered and elected another pope, Clement VII.  The cardinals had become very independent-minded.

The rival popes engage in armed battle in the Great Schism: Urban VI vs. Clement VII

Antipope Clement VII

After armed battles for control of Rome between the forces of the rival popes, Clement VII retired to Avignon in 1381.  This marked the beginning of the Great Schism, a split at the very top of the government of the church which had political as well as religious repercussions.  Some countries, such as Italy, the Empire, the eastern and Scandinavian areas, Hungary, and England, supported Urban VI of Rome.  France and its territories, Spain, and Scotland supported Clement VII in Avignon.  In the earlier medieval period two and even three popes had occasionally co-existed, but this Schism was far more serious.  Unlike earlier schisms, the problem originated within the papal court itself, among the cardinals.

The clergy's allegiance is split between the two popes



Pope Gregory XII

This division affected all levels of the clergy, although changes of allegiance from one pope to the other were not unheard of.  Non-monastic clergy, cathedral, and college chapters, and even religious orders sometimes found their allegiance split.  Urban's extreme stubbornness made an easy solution impossible: he even had some of his unbending cardinals tortured to death.  Even after Urban's death in 1389, the problem continued, with parallel elections continuing into the next century.

The king of France attempts to heal the Great Schism




Pope Innocent VII

By now, the embarrassment of the situation was clear even to the king of France.  He attempted to heal the Schism, even at the cost of abandoning the Avignon pope.  Various solutions were suggested, of which the three most important were for one pope to give way to the other, for one to conquer the other, or for both to compromise.

Urban VI dies and is succeeded by Innocent VII who is then succeeded by Gregory XII
 


Antipope Alexander V

The farcical situation continued in Rome when Innocent VII became pope from 1404 to 1406 and was succeeded by Gregory XII (1406-15), in spite of general protests from church leaders and theologians.  Meanwhile the rival colleges of cardinals -- one at Rome, the other at Avignon -- began to compromise and discuss ways of ending the Schism.  Finally, since neither pope would agree to give way, some of their cardinals called a council to meet in Pisa in 1409 where, it was hoped, the Schism would be ended.

The cardinals elect a third pope: Alexander V

Antipope John XXIII

The popes refused to attend, so the cardinals deposed both of them and elected in their place Alexander V (1409-10).  Neither the Avignon nor the Roman pope recognized this new choice, so the result of the council was three popes, where there had been two.  More significantly, the Council of Pisa raised an important principles by its actions: a council may be superior in power to a pope, in effect calling papal supremacy into question.

The third pope, Alexander V dies, and is succeeded by the third pope, John XXIII.  John XXIII is deposed and Gregory XII resigns, leaving one pope: Benedict XIII who is himself deposed.  There is now zero popes.

Antipope Benedict XIII

The issues were not settled at Pisa.  At the greatest council of the period, the Council of Constance (1414-18), it was hoped that they would be.  Another pope now reigned -- John XXIII, who in 1410 had succeeded Alexander V.  The Council attracted wide interest, and by 1415 scholars, church dignitaries, and various secular officials had arrived.  Even the Greek Orthodox sent representatives.  Over the next three years some forty-five main sessions were held, with scores of lesser committee meetings.  Eventually, after a trial in 1415, John XXIII was forced to give up his claim to the papacy.  In the same year Gregory XII resigned, leaving but one pope, the Spanish Benedict XIII.  He too was tried and deposed in 1417, though he went on living in Spain under the delusion that he was the only true pope, until his death in 1422.

Martin V is elected the sole pope after the deposal of John XXIII and Benedict XIII and the resignation of Gregory XII

Pope Martin V

No council had accomplished so much in healing breaches within the church since the very early general councils.  The way was clear to elect one pope who would once more represent all Western Christians.  This was done in 1417; the new pope was Martin V.  The problem was raised, however, as to whether the council which had created him was superior to the pope who claimed supremacy.  For the moment the claim of the council lapsed.

Source: Dowley, Tim, ed. Introduction to the History of Christianity, Second Edition. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2013, pages 279-280.