The Avignon Papacy and the The Avignon Papacy and the Great SchismGreat Schism

Question: Why did people in Question: Why did people in the Middle Ages and the Middle Ages and

Renaissance have such a Renaissance have such a deep faith in the Church?deep faith in the Church?

Comfort and ReassuranceComfort and Reassurance

Needed salvation and sacraments to go Needed salvation and sacraments to go to heavento heaven

Temporal (Earthly) Authority of Temporal (Earthly) Authority of Church WeakenedChurch Weakened

Influence of strong Influence of strong monarchs and monarchs and national national governmentsgovernments

Boniface VIII Boniface VIII battled French battled French Philip the FairPhilip the Fair

King wants to tax King wants to tax the French clergythe French clergy

Papal Bulls (Papal Bulls (bullabulla or or decrees)decrees)

Clericos Laicos 1296: Clericos Laicos 1296: Clergy were not to pay Clergy were not to pay any tax to a lay rulerany tax to a lay ruler

Unam Sanctam Unam Sanctam 1302: 1302: Pope was the supreme Pope was the supreme authority-even over kingsauthority-even over kings

Phillip invaded Italy and Phillip invaded Italy and tried to take Boniface VIII tried to take Boniface VIII prisoner for ransom. prisoner for ransom.

Pope dies of humiliation Pope dies of humiliation & stress& stress

Babylonian Captivity 1309-Babylonian Captivity 1309-7777

1305: French 1305: French bishop elected Popebishop elected Pope

Clement V: leaves Clement V: leaves Rome and moves Rome and moves papacy to Avignonpapacy to Avignon

Technically a papal Technically a papal controlled city-state, controlled city-state, seen as a puppet of seen as a puppet of The French MonarchThe French Monarch

Pope Built Papal “Palace”Pope Built Papal “Palace”

St. Peter’s in RomeSt. Peter’s in Rome

Financial Corruption GrewFinancial Corruption Grew TraditionalTraditional tithe tithe for upkeep for upkeep

of local churches now a taxof local churches now a tax Church officials pay Church officials pay

annatesannates (first year income) (first year income) to popeto pope

All fees from a vacant All fees from a vacant position in church went to position in church went to popepope

SimonySimony (selling of church (selling of church offices) reintroducedoffices) reintroduced

Building a bureaucracy to Building a bureaucracy to collect revenues for the collect revenues for the popepope

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

the church?the church?

Popes are viewed as Popes are viewed as corrupted by worldly powercorrupted by worldly power

Neglecting their spiritual Neglecting their spiritual dutiesduties

John WycliffeJohn Wycliffe

Wycliffe was an Oxford TheologianWycliffe was an Oxford Theologian Advocated the rights of kings against the Advocated the rights of kings against the

popes/clergy popes/clergy Church = Spiritual / King = Temporal Church = Spiritual / King = Temporal Followers called Lollards and preached in Followers called Lollards and preached in

the vernacular, favored reformsthe vernacular, favored reforms Donatism- efficacy of rituals depended Donatism- efficacy of rituals depended

upon the personal worthiness of the clergyupon the personal worthiness of the clergy

Jan HussJan Huss

Rector of University of Prague Rector of University of Prague Inspired by Wycliffe of OxfordInspired by Wycliffe of Oxford Denied the Miracle of TransubtantiantionDenied the Miracle of Transubtantiantion Concurred with DonatismConcurred with Donatism Burned at the stake by the Council of Burned at the stake by the Council of

Constance in 1414Constance in 1414 Later militant Hussites (Taborites) won Later militant Hussites (Taborites) won

concessions from the Council of Baselconcessions from the Council of Basel

Return to Rome: 1377Return to Rome: 1377

Gregory XI moves the Gregory XI moves the papal residence back papal residence back to Rome- diesto Rome- dies

Roman mobs force the Roman mobs force the election of an Italian election of an Italian pope- Urban VIpope- Urban VI

French cardinals French cardinals escape to Avignon and escape to Avignon and elect an alternative elect an alternative popepope

Both Popes Both Popes excommunicate each excommunicate each otherother

Great Schism 1378-1437Great Schism 1378-1437

TWO popes have TWO popes have different alliesdifferent allies

Roman Pope vs. Roman Pope vs. Avignon PopeAvignon Pope

Council of PisaCouncil of Pisa: Asks : Asks popes to resign and popes to resign and elects its own popeelects its own pope

THREE popes!!!THREE popes!!! Council of ConstanceCouncil of Constance

1414: Gets rid of all 1414: Gets rid of all three and elects Martin three and elects Martin VV

Conciliar MovementConciliar Movement

Theory- Church Theory- Church Councils are Councils are superior to the superior to the PopePope

Councils Pisa, Councils Pisa, Constance & Basel Constance & Basel sought to end the sought to end the Great Schism and Great Schism and clarify doctrineclarify doctrine

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

the Church?the Church?

Laity is upset w/ excess & Laity is upset w/ excess & conflictconflict

Papacy disgraced as an Papacy disgraced as an institutioninstitution

Church is ripe for Church is ripe for REFORMATIONREFORMATION