At One Point, There Were Three Catholic Popes at the Same Time

One would hope that church leaders are always the epitome of ethical eminence and spiritual integrity. But reality is seldom so simple. In fact, in the annals of ancient history, there exists a peculiar chapter that perplexes even the most seasoned historians—the era of the three popes.

The Vatican, a symbol of spiritual unity, once found itself mired in a schismatic tangle, with not one, not two, but three popes claiming authority simultaneously. This bizarre episode unfolded during the Western Schism, a tumultuous period in the 14th and 15th centuries that shook the foundations of the Catholic Church and was marked by a power struggle fueled by political ambition and greed which caused three popes to claim authority at the same time.

The Roots of Discord: A Papal Power Struggle

The roots of this eccentricity lie in the power dynamics and political machinations of the time. In 1378, Pope Gregory XI passed away, triggering a papal conclave to elect his successor. The conclave, however, was fraught with tension, as the Roman and French factions within the College of Cardinals vied for control. The result? Two popes were elected almost simultaneously—Pope Urban VI in Rome and Pope Clement VII in Avignon, France.

This unexpected dual papacy marked the beginning of the Western Schism. The Church now faced an unprecedented predicament, torn between two pontiffs each claiming legitimacy. As if this weren't confounding enough, a third pope with his seat in Pisa, Alexander V, was elected in 1409 by a group of cardinals dissatisfied with both Urban VI and Clement VII.

Thus, the Catholic Church found itself in a surreal scenario: three men, each donning the papal miter, each commanding their own followers, and each embroiled in a web of excommunications and anathemas against one another.

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Portrait of Pope Martin V, who replaced the three popes and reunited the Catholic Church. (Public domain)

When Three Popes Became One: The End of the Western Schism

The Western Schism endured for nearly four decades, creating an ecclesiastical quagmire that would only be resolved in 1417 by the Council of Constance. During this council, the three existing popes were urged to resign, paving the way for the election of a single pontiff, Pope Martin V, who would reunite the Catholic Church with its seat in Rome.

It's a historical oddity that, despite its resolution, continues to captivate scholars and history enthusiasts alike. The era of the three popes serves as a stark reminder that even the highest echelons of spiritual leadership are not immune to the complexities of human politics and ambition. The unity of the Church, so cherished and revered, was momentarily shattered, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of ancient history—a testament to the eccentricities that can arise even within the holiest of institutions.

Top image: Disputing clerics from the 14th-century Grandes Chroniques de France. Source: Public domain

By Cecilia Bogaard