The Western Schism or Great Schism was a period of the late Middle Ages during which the Catholic Church was divided under two, and even three, simultaneous papacies.

The schism lasted 40 years during which there were two papal sees, one in Avignon and one in Rome. European monarchies, Italian states, religious orders and universities, which had great political and religious influence at that time, were divided between those who supported one pope and those who supported the other while the common people remained in confusion.

The papados in force during the Great Schism were the following:

• Urban VI (1378-1389) and his successors, Boniface IX (1389-1404) , Innocent VII (1404-1406) and Gregory XII (1406-1427) , based in Rome. They were recognized by Italy, Germany, Eastern Europe and England.
• Clement VII (1378-1394) and Benedict XIII (1394-1417) , installed in Avignon, were supported by France, Scotland, the kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula and Naples.
• Alexander V (1409-1410) and John XXIII (1410-1415) elected from the Council of Pisa that sought to solve the problem of schism. Causes and consequences Western Schism

Both the Avignon popes and those elected from the Council of Pisa are considered antipopes by the Catholic Church.

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Historic context

The Western Schism occurred at a time of transition from medieval theocentrism to the anthropocentric thought characteristic of the Modern Age . In this context, disputes arose over the scope of the authority of the Catholic Church in the political affairs of each State.

Following a political conflict between the King of France and the papacy, at the beginning of the 14th century the pontifical see had moved to Avignon (France) where an efficient administrative bureaucracy with strong influence from the French court was consolidated.

However, Rome demanded the return of the pontiffs, and spiritual renewal currents, such as the one carried out by Saint Catherine of Siena, sought to reorient the Church to its spiritual functions.

In an attempt to overcome these tensions, in 1376, Pope Gregory XI returned the pontifical see to Rome. But in 1378 the pope passed away, and during the election of the new pontiff, the conflicts between supporters of the election of a French pope and supporters of an Italian pope escalated to violence.

The elected pope, an Italian who took the name of Urban VI , took some unpopular measures and this situation was taken advantage of by an antagonistic sector of the curia to consider that the conclave had been illegitimate due to the pressure received by the voters.

As a consequence, a sector of the church accompanied by various political powers ignored the authority of Pope Urban and decided to summon a new conclave in which another pope was elected who took the name of Clement VII .

This election was rejected by Pope Urban VI and by the sector of the Church that supported him, so both popes were considered legitimate and began their pontificates in different sees.

End of the Western Schism

During the forty years that the schism lasted, there were several attempts to resolve the conflict. Various measures such as armed interventions, the “subtraction of obedience” proposed by the King of France and the University of Paris and the attempts at negotiation did not have satisfactory results.

Finally, it was decided that the way to achieve a definitive resolution should be through the conciliar route. Two councils were held: Causes and consequences Western Schism

• Council of Pisa (1409) : summoned by dissident cardinals of the two popes, this council condemned both and elected a third pope, Alexander V who lived only one year and, in 1410, John XXIII. Despite the support obtained by the political powers, John XXIII could not achieve the reunification of the Church so, supported by Sigismund, the Holy Roman Emperor, he summoned another council.
• Council of Constance (1414-1418) : this council was legitimized by the support of numerous religious hierarchies such as abbots, bishops and cardinals. From the beginning it assumed a reformist intention. He dismissed the popes, elected a new one who took the name of Martin V. This election had the support of all parties and achieved the reunification of the pontificate. The council continued in session as a representative of the universal Church.

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Causes and consequences of the Western Schism

Causes

Some of the causes of the Western Schism were the following:

• The excessive power acquired by the College of Cardinals over the previous years. The cardinals had become powerful princes who responded more to political powers than to the interests of the Church.
• The interest of the French monarchy to control the papacy. Causes and consequences Western Schism
• The loss of representation of the papacy installed in Avignon of the Christian people. The papacy had become a bureaucratic court that was far removed from the values ​​and needs of Christianity .
• The rivalry between Rome and France to control the pontifical power.

Consequences

Some of the consequences of the Western Schism were the following:

• Europe was divided between those who supported the Pope of Rome and those who supported the Pope of Avignon. Both popes excommunicated each other and excommunicated their followers.
• A strong crisis was generated among Christendom that lost its spiritual references.
• When the conflict was resolved through an ecumenical council summoned from outside the pontifical hierarchy, the power of the papacy was limited and a period of strong conciliar power began .
• Tacit boundaries were established between the power of monarchies and the papacy.