Papal Schism

The video script clarifies a common misconception regarding the seat of the papacy, explaining that while the Vatican is significant for the Catholic Church, it is not the official seat of the papacy. The true seat is actually in Rome, as the Pope is the Bishop of Rome. The script delves into the concept of a Cathedral as the bishop's seat of power, symbolized by a chair or 'cathedra'. It highlights the Lateran Church, also known as St. John Lateran, as the actual cathedral of the Bishop of Rome. The church's historical importance is underscored, with references to the Lateran Council of 1215 and its doctrinal decisions. The script also discusses Pope Martin V's role in ending the papal schism and the rise of conciliarism, which challenged the Pope's ultimate authority in favor of a council or the church body as a whole.

This paragraph discusses the historical context of the papal schism, which emerged from the Avignon papacy period of 1337 to 1378. It explains the confusion surrounding the term 'Great Schism' and outlines the events leading to the schism. The paragraph details how the death of Gregory XI, who returned the papacy to Rome from Avignon, led to the election of an Italian pope, Urban VI, under pressure from local rioters. However, due to Urban VI's contentious and aggressive leadership, a faction of the Cardinals declared his election invalid and elected a rival pope, Clement VII, who returned to Avignon. This action initiated the papal schism, creating a division in Europe's political and religious landscape.

The script describes the profound impact of the papal schism on Europe, where kings and rulers were left uncertain about the true leadership of the church. It explains the political division that ensued, with France and its allies supporting the Avignon Pope, while England and the Holy Roman Empire backed the Roman Pope. The crisis of authority was exacerbated by the fact that both popes issued conflicting instructions for bishopric and monastery appointments. The paragraph also notes the typical resolution method for such disputes in the Middle Ages, which was to wait for the death of one or both popes and then unite behind the surviving one. However, this did not happen, and instead, the schism persisted beyond the death of both initial popes, leading to the election of additional popes and further complicating the situation.

The paragraph delves into the rise of conciliarism, a theological movement that advocated for the superiority of a council over the Pope in matters of faith. It highlights key figures like Jean Gerson, William of Ockham, and Marsilius of Padua, who contributed to the development of conciliarist thought. The script discusses their arguments for the need for a council to resolve the papal schism and their views on the distribution of power within the church. It also mentions the Council of Pisa, which attempted to end the schism by deposing the two existing popes and electing a new one, Alexander V. However, Alexander V's short reign and the subsequent election of John XXIII only worsened the schism, leading to the presence of three popes.

The script describes the pivotal role of the Council of Constance in resolving the papal schism. It details how the council, under the influence of powerful rulers like Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, deposed the three existing popes and elected Martin V as the sole pope. The paragraph explains the political dynamics that allowed the council's decision to be accepted across Europe, effectively ending the schism. It also discusses the council's decree 'Haetianus', which called for regular council meetings to oversee the church and the papacy, and the subsequent tension between papal power and conciliar power that shaped the church's governance leading up to the Reformation.

The final paragraph reflects on the long-term effects of the papal schism, which weakened the papacy and spurred alternative theories about the church's authority. It discusses the eventual rejection of conciliarism by the Catholic Church and the rise of the doctrine of papal infallibility, which asserts the Pope's ultimate authority without the need for councils. The script also highlights how the crisis of authority resulting from the schism led to a weakened moral integrity of the papacy and prompted theologians to challenge its corruption. This historical context set the stage for Martin Luther's challenge to papal authority during the Reformation, which the papacy met with an authoritarian response.