The Papal Schism

VS.

King Philip IV vs. Pope Boniface VIII

1. Philip claims right to tax clergy- Pope refuses

2. Philip attempts to capture Pope

Pope escapes but dies from shock

3. To ensure position, Clement V is elected Pope and moves to Avignon (in Southern France)

Pope’s Palace In Avignon

Papacy moved to France Moved to

Avignon

Leads to the decline of papal

prestige

Finally Pope Gregory XI moved the Papacy back to Rome

Vatican City

When Pope Gregory dies

College of Cardinals met to elect new Pope

Citizens of Italy warned the Cardinals that if they did not elect a new Italian Pope the cardinals would not leave alive

Cardinals elect Pope Urban VI

Cardinals in France declare election invalid

– Elect a new Pope 5 months later– Choose Frenchman as Pope who resides in Avignon:

Clement VII

– Now there are two Popes– Both declare the other invalid and excommunicate each

other!

– Great Schism lasts from 1378 to 1417

A 3rd Pope elected(Pope Alexander V)

How does this end?• All three popes forced to resign

• Leaders met in Constance, Switzerland

• Finally elect one Pope (Pope Martin V)

Why does this matter?

• Pope did not seem as holy

• Having multiple popes at the same time weakened the image of the pope

• Leads to a decline in religion

Other Challenges• John Wycliffe- Jesus, not the Pope is

the head of the church. Also, the clergy should not own land

• John Hus- Pope is not the head of the church… the BIBLE is the authority