Election Of Rival Popes

Boniface ix who was crowned at rome in 1389 and benedict xiii who reigned in avignon from 1394 maintained their rival courts.

Election of rival popes. In 1046 the scandals of the preceding elections in which the supreme pontificate had become a prize for rival factions entirely regardless of what means they employed led clergy and people to leave the nomination to henry iii. The western schism which began in 1378 when the french cardinals claiming that the election of pope urban vi was invalid elected antipope clement vii as a rival to the roman pope led eventually to two competing lines of antipopes. A papal conclave is a gathering of the college of cardinals convened to elect a bishop of rome also known as the pope the pope is considered by catholics to be the apostolic successor of saint peter and earthly head of the catholic church.

Three popes were chosen in this manner. The double election had disastrous effects upon the church. A majority of the cardinals elected cardinal rolando of siena as pope alexander iii but a minority refused to recognize him and elected their own candidate ottaviano de monticelli who took the name victor iv creating a schism that lasted until 1178.

The followers of the two popes were divided chiefly along national lines and thus the dual papacy fostered the political antagonisms of the time. But when benedict s legates refused on his behalf the roman party then proceeded to elect pope innocent vii. Concerns around political interference led to reforms after the interregnum of 1268 1271 and pope gregory x s decree during the second council of lyons.

The pope may on this occasion choose to give the shorter episcopal blessing as his first apostolic blessing instead of the traditional urbi et orbi blessing this happened most recently with pope paul vi after his election at the 1963 conclave beginning with pope john paul ii the last three popes elected including pope francis have chosen to. The spectacle of rival popes denouncing each other produced great confusion and resulted in a tremendous loss of prestige for the papacy. This included their approval of the pope elect before he could be consecrated.

In 1046 the scandals of the preceding elections in which the supreme pontificate had become a prize for rival factions entirely regardless of what means they employed led clergy and people to leave the nomination to henry iii. At this time the co emperors of the western empire lothair and louis ii claimed the right to exercise authority over popes and the church. The 1159 papal election followed the death of pope adrian iv.

Three popes were chosen in this manner. When pope boniface died in 1404 the eight cardinals of the roman conclave offered to refrain from electing a new pope if benedict would resign. In 1046 the scandals of the preceding elections in which the supreme pontificate had become a prize for rival factions entirely regardless of what means they employed led clergy and people to leave the nomination to henry iii.