The Avignon Papacy and the Great Schism Question

The Avignon Papacy and the Great Schism

Question: Why did people in the Middle Ages and Renaissance have such a deep faith in the Church? Comfort and Reassurance Needed salvation and sacraments to go to heaven

Temporal (Earthly) Authority of Church Weakened n n n Influence of strong monarchs and national governments Boniface VIII battled French Philip the Fair King wants to tax the French clergy

Papal Bulls (bulla or decrees) n n 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

Babylonian Captivity 1309 -77 n n n 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

Pope Built Papal “Palace”

St. Peter’s in Rome

Financial Corruption Grew n n n 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

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

John Wycliffe n n n 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

Jan Huss n n n Rector of University of Prague Inspired by Wycliffe of Oxford Denied the Miracle of Transubtantion 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

Return to Rome: 1377 n n 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

Great Schism 1378 -1437 n n n 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

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

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