Great Western Schism

History > European
History > Religion
Religion and Theology > Christianity

The paper examines the possible causes of the Great Western Schism - the major crisis experienced by the Catholic Church at the end of the 14th century.

3,250 words () | 8 sources | MLA | 2002 United States

Paper Summary:

An examination of several ideas which have been suggested as the possible causes of the Great Western Schism. The paper suggests one popular argument which blames the people of Rome, the hasty appointment of Urban VI was made to dispel an angry Roman mob. Another theory analyzed is that the King of France was attempting to seize control back of the papacy and persuaded the cardinals to elect a second pope. The actions of Urban VI and the Cardinals have also been blamed. This paper examines these theories and attempts to pinpoint the proximate cause of the Great Western Schism.

From the Paper:

"During the middle and end of the 14th century, the Catholic Church went through a major crisis that came to be known as the Great Western Schism. Bartholomew Prignano, the Archbishop of Bari, was elected Pope and took the name Urban VI. After just a few months of Urban's rule, the Cardinal College left Rome and elected one of their own, Robert of Geneva, who became Pope Clement VII. In 1409 a church council in Pisa attempted to elect a new pope that could unite the sides. The Pisian council did, but neither pope was willing to give up his power. Thus, three popes were vying for authority over the church. "