Why were there three popes at the same time? - Joëlle Rollo-Koster

TED-Ed
11 May 202306:13
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe script delves into the Great Schism of the 14th century, when political strife and power struggles led to the emergence of three rival popes. It traces the conflict from Pope Boniface VIII's 'Unam Sanctam' to the election of Pope Urban VI and the subsequent schism, where the papacy was split between Rome and Avignon. The crisis persisted for decades, forcing European rulers to choose sides, until the Council of Constance in 1417 resolved the issue by electing Pope Martin V, who unified the church and ended the schism after 39 years.

Takeaways
  • 🏛️ The papal schism arose in the late 14th century due to political and power struggles, leading to the existence of three popes at one time.
  • 💼 King Philip IV's attempt to tax the Church led to a conflict with Pope Boniface VIII, resulting in the Pope asserting his supremacy over earthly rulers in the 'Unam Sanctam' decree.
  • 🛡️ Pope Boniface VIII's death after an assault by King Philip IV's forces set the stage for the election of Pope Clement V, who moved the papacy to Avignon to avoid Rome's demands.
  • 🏰 The papacy remained in Avignon for the terms of seven popes, reflecting a period of French influence over the Church.
  • 🗳️ The election of Pope Urban VI in Rome was influenced by local pressure and resulted in a backlash from the cardinals, who felt their financial interests were threatened.
  • 🔄 The cardinals' rejection of Pope Urban VI led to the creation of an opposing papal line with Pope Clement VII in Avignon, deepening the schism.
  • 🌐 Western Christendom was divided with two papal seats, Avignon and Rome, each claiming legitimacy and authority.
  • 🤝 European rulers had to choose sides in the conflict, as the legitimacy of each pope had political and spiritual implications.
  • 🏛️ The Council of Pisa in 1409 attempted to resolve the schism by deposing both popes and electing a new one, but this only resulted in a third line of popes.
  • 🔚 The Council of Constance in 1417 finally ended the schism by securing the resignation of the Roman line and the newly created third line, leading to the election of Pope Martin V.
  • ✝️ Pope Martin V's undisputed reign marked the end of the schism, and he excommunicated the remaining Avignon Pope to solidify unity within the Church.
Q & A
  • What was the main cause of the conflict between King Philip IV of France and Pope Boniface VIII?

    -The conflict began when King Philip IV decided to raise taxes on the Church, which offended Pope Boniface VIII. This led to Boniface asserting the Pope's supremacy over earthly rulers in the 'Unam Sanctam' decree, prompting King Philip to retaliate by declaring Boniface a heretic and attempting to arrest him.

  • Why did Pope Clement V move the papacy to Avignon?

    -Pope Clement V, a French diplomat, moved the papacy to Avignon in 1309 to stay close to the ongoing war between England and France and to escape the demands of Rome.

  • How did the papacy's relocation to Avignon affect the subsequent election of Popes?

    -The relocation to Avignon led to a period where seven popes reigned from there. When the papacy returned to Rome in 1376, the local officials and mobs pressured the cardinals to elect an Italian pope, leading to the election of Pope Urban VI.

  • What was the immediate cause of the Western Schism, also known as the Papal Schism?

    -The immediate cause of the Western Schism was the election of Pope Urban VI under pressure from Roman mobs. When Urban began to implement reforms that threatened the cardinals' finances, they declared the election illegitimate and elected Pope Clement VII in a new conclave.

  • How did Pope Urban VI's reforms contribute to the start of the Papal Schism?

    -Pope Urban VI's reforms aimed at limiting the cardinals' finances, which threatened their luxurious lifestyles. In response, the cardinals declared his election illegitimate and elected a new Pope, Clement VII, thus beginning the Papal Schism.

  • What was the role of the Council of Constance in resolving the Papal Schism?

    -The Council of Constance, which took place in 1417, played a crucial role in ending the Papal Schism. The popes from the Roman line and the recently created third line resigned, and the council agreed to unite the church under a new Pope, Martin V.

  • Why did European rulers have to choose sides during the Papal Schism?

    -European rulers had to choose sides because both popes claimed spiritual and political supremacy. Their support could influence the legitimacy and power of each papal claimant.

  • How did the Papal Schism affect the ordinary Catholics?

    -The Papal Schism did not significantly impact most ordinary Catholics as there were no major doctrinal splits. The crisis mainly played out in the diplomatic realm, affecting the political and religious landscape of Europe.

  • What was the 'Unam Sanctam' and why was it significant?

    -The 'Unam Sanctam' was a decree written by Pope Boniface VIII asserting the Pope's total supremacy over earthly rulers. It was significant because it was a direct challenge to King Philip IV's authority and a catalyst for the conflict that eventually led to the Papal Schism.

  • How did the Council of Pisa attempt to resolve the Papal Schism, and why did it fail?

    -The Council of Pisa, held in 1409, attempted to resolve the Papal Schism by deposing both the Avignon and Roman popes and electing a new Pope. However, it failed because both the Avignon and Rome popes refused to recognize the council's authority, leading to the existence of three popes instead of resolving the crisis.

  • What was the final outcome of the Papal Schism, and who was recognized as the legitimate Pope?

    -The Papal Schism ended with the Council of Constance in 1417, where the popes from the Roman line and the third line resigned. The council elected Pope Martin V as the undisputed Pope, who then excommunicated the remaining Pope of Avignon, thus ending the schism after 39 years.

Outlines
00:00
🏛️ The Papal Schism of 1296-1378

The script delves into the historical conflict known as the Papal Schism, which began in 1296 when King Philip IV of France attempted to tax the Church, leading to Pope Boniface VIII's 'Unam Sanctam' decree. The decree asserted papal authority over secular rulers, but it resulted in the king's retaliation, leading to Boniface's death and the election of Pope Clement V. To avoid Rome's influence, Clement moved the papacy to Avignon. After his reign and six successors, the papacy returned to Rome in 1376, but the sudden death of the Pope led to the election of Pope Urban VI, who was seen as a reformer. The cardinals, unhappy with his reforms, declared the election illegitimate and elected Pope Clement VII, leading to a split in the papacy with two popes, one in Avignon and one in Rome.

05:04
🔗 The Resolution of the Great Schism

This paragraph continues the narrative of the Papal Schism, detailing the unsuccessful attempts to resolve the crisis through the election of a third Pope by a council of cardinals, which only exacerbated the issue. The schism, which persisted for nearly 40 years, did not significantly affect ordinary Catholics due to the lack of doctrinal differences. However, it created a diplomatic dilemma for European rulers who had to choose sides. The crisis was only resolved in 1417 at the Council of Constance, where the popes from the Roman line and the third line resigned, and Martin V was elected as the undisputed Pope. He swiftly excommunicated the Pope of Avignon, ending the schism. The Church's official records now recognize the Roman Line as the legitimate papal authority, illustrating the human tendency for power struggles, even within religious institutions.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Pope
The Pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church and is considered by Catholics to be the supreme spiritual authority. In the video, the term is central as it discusses the historical event of having three popes simultaneously, known as the Papal Schism, which highlights the crisis of authority and legitimacy within the Church.
💡Catholics
Catholics are members of the Roman Catholic Church, which is one of the largest branches of Christianity. The video script mentions Catholics as the primary followers affected by the Papal Schism, as they were divided in their loyalty between competing papal figures.
💡Papal Schism
The Papal Schism refers to the period in the late 14th and early 15th centuries when the Catholic Church was divided over the legitimate pope, leading to the existence of rival claimants to the papacy. The script discusses this schism as a significant event that exemplifies power struggles and the complexity of religious authority.
💡King Philip IV
King Philip IV of France is a historical figure mentioned in the script who played a role in the events leading to the Papal Schism. His conflict with Pope Boniface VIII over taxation and political power set the stage for the subsequent divisions within the Church.
💡Unam Sanctam
Unam Sanctam is a papal bull issued by Pope Boniface VIII, asserting the Pope's authority over secular rulers. The script refers to it as a key document that contributed to the tensions between the Church and King Philip IV, which eventually led to the Papal Schism.
💡Pope Boniface VIII
Pope Boniface VIII was the Pope prior to the onset of the Papal Schism. The script describes his conflict with King Philip IV and his issuance of the 'Unam Sanctam,' which was a critical precursor to the crisis of multiple popes.
💡Pope Clement V
Pope Clement V was the Pope who moved the papacy from Rome to Avignon, a decision that had lasting effects on the Church's governance and contributed to the eventual Papal Schism. The script explains his motivations and the historical significance of this move.
💡Avignon
Avignon is the city in France where the papacy was relocated by Pope Clement V. The script discusses its role as the alternate seat of the papacy during the Papal Schism, which created a geographical and political divide within the Church.
💡Pope Urban VI
Pope Urban VI was the Pope elected after the return of the papacy to Rome. The script describes him as a reformer whose actions led to the cardinals' decision to elect a rival pope, thus deepening the Papal Schism.
💡Pope Clement VII
Pope Clement VII was the antipope elected by the cardinals who rejected the legitimacy of Pope Urban VI's election. The script illustrates the division within the Church, as Clement VII and his supporters returned to Avignon, further complicating the Papal Schism.
💡Council of Constance
The Council of Constance was a significant ecclesiastical council that ultimately resolved the Papal Schism. The script describes how this council led to the resignation of the rival popes and the election of Pope Martin V, who ended the schism.
💡Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V was the Pope elected by the Council of Constance to end the Papal Schism. The script highlights his role in uniting the Church and excommunicating the last antipope, thus restoring a single line of papal authority.
Highlights

The Pope has been a figure of supreme spiritual authority for Catholics for almost two millennia.

In the late 14th century, there were three popes, leading to a crisis in the Catholic Church.

The conflict began in 1296 when King Philip IV of France tried to tax the Church, leading to Pope Boniface VIII asserting the Pope's supremacy over rulers.

Pope Boniface VIII was declared a heretic and survived an assassination attempt by King Philip IV.

Pope Clement V, elected in 1305, moved the papacy to Avignon to escape Rome's demands and be closer to the conflict between England and France.

The papacy remained in Avignon for 70 years until Pope Gregory XI returned to Rome in 1376.

Pope Gregory XI's sudden death led to the election of Pope Urban VI in Rome, amidst chaos and pressure from local officials and mobs.

Pope Urban VI was initially seen as a safe choice but turned out to be a reformer seeking to limit the cardinals' finances.

The cardinals declared the election of Pope Urban VI illegitimate and elected Pope Clement VII in a new conclave.

The schism began with Western Christendom having two capitals, Avignon and Rome, each with their own pope and court of cardinals.

The crisis continued for decades as popes from each line died and their cardinals appointed successors.

The schism did not significantly impact ordinary Catholics as there were no major doctrinal splits, but played out in the diplomatic realm.

European rulers were forced to choose sides as both popes vied for spiritual and political supremacy.

In 1409, cardinals from France and Rome called a council to resolve the issue, deposing the two popes and electing a new one, Pope Alexander V.

The Council of Constance in 1417 finally ended the schism, with the popes from the Roman line and the third line resigning and uniting the church under Pope Martin V.

Pope Martin V excommunicated the Pope of Avignon, ending the 39-year schism and establishing the Roman Line as the true papal power according to the church's official records.

The existence of the schism shows that even those who are supposed to be pious can be prone to petty power struggles.

Transcripts
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