The Great Schism, also known as the Western Schism, was a significant event in the history of the Catholic Church that lasted from 1378 to 1417. During this period, there were three claimants to the papacy, each with their own following. The three popes were:
- Pope Urban VI – Elected in 1378, Urban VI was initially recognized as the legitimate pope. His election was controversial, as it followed the return of the papacy from Avignon to Rome.
- Pope Clement VII – In response to Urban VI’s election, a group of cardinals declared the election invalid and elected Clement VII, who took up residence in Avignon. This led to a split where different nations supported different popes.
- Pope Benedict XIII – In 1394, a new pope was elected in Avignon, who also claimed to be the true pope, adding to the confusion. He became known as Benedict XIII and continued to lead a faction that was distinct from Urban VI and later popes.
This schism created a significant rift in the Catholic Church, with various political implications and a lack of clarity about true papal authority. The situation continued until the Council of Constance in 1417, which resolved the issue by deposing the rival popes and electing a single pope, Martin V, thus ending the schism.