The Avignon Papacy and the Great Schism

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The Avignon Papacy and the Great Schism
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Question Why did people in the Middle Ages and
Renaissance have such a deep faith in the Church?

• Comfort and ReassuranceNeeded salvation and
  sacraments to go to heaven

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Temporal (Earthly) Authority of Church Weakened

• Influence of strong monarchs and national
  governments
• Boniface VIII battled French Philip the Fair
• King wants to tax the French clergy

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Papal Bulls (bulla or decrees)

• Clericos Laicos 1296 Clergy were not to pay any
  tax to a lay ruler
• Unam Sanctam 1302 Pope was the supreme
  authority-even over kings
• Phillip invaded Italy and tried to take Boniface
  VIII prisoner for ransom.
• Pope dies of humiliation stress

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Babylonian Captivity 1309-77

• 1305 French bishop elected Pope
• Clement V leaves Rome and moves papacy to
  Avignon
• Technically a papal controlled city-state, seen
  as a puppet of The French Monarch

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Pope Built Papal Palace
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St. Peters in Rome
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Financial Corruption Grew

• Traditional tithe for upkeep of local churches
  now a tax
• Church officials pay annates (first year income)
  to pope
• All fees from a vacant position in church went to
  pope
• Simony (selling of church offices) reintroduced
• Building a bureaucracy to collect revenues for
  the pope

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How do you think the people saw this change in
the role of the church?

• Popes are viewed as corrupted by worldly power
• Neglecting their spiritual duties

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John Wycliffe

• Wycliffe was an Oxford Theologian
• Advocated the rights of kings against the
  popes/clergy
• Church Spiritual / King Temporal
• Followers called Lollards and preached in the
  vernacular, favored reforms
• Donatism- efficacy of rituals depended upon the
  personal worthiness of the clergy

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Jan Huss

• Rector of University of Prague
• Inspired by Wycliffe of Oxford
• Denied the Miracle of Transubtantiantion
• Concurred with Donatism
• Burned at the stake by the Council of Constance
  in 1414
• Later militant Hussites (Taborites) won
  concessions from the Council of Basel

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Return to Rome 1377

• Gregory XI moves the papal residence back to
  Rome- dies
• Roman mobs force the election of an Italian pope-
  Urban VI
• French cardinals escape to Avignon and elect an
  alternative pope
• Both Popes excommunicate each other

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Great Schism 1378-1437

• TWO popes have different allies
• Roman Pope vs. Avignon Pope
• Council of Pisa Asks popes to resign and elects
  its own pope
• THREE popes!!!
• Council of Constance 1414 Gets rid of all three
  and elects Martin V

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Conciliar Movement

• Theory- Church Councils are superior to the Pope
• Councils Pisa, Constance Basel sought to end
  the Great Schism and clarify doctrine

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How does all of this damage the reputation of the
Church?

• Laity is upset w/ excess conflict
• Papacy disgraced as an institution
• Church is ripe for REFORMATION