three popes were there during the great schism.
three popes were there during the great schism.
how many popes were there during the great schism?
three
gerson's chief work was toward reconciling the great schism. gregory xi had died in 1378 in rome, one year after gerson went to the college of navarre, and since his death there were two claimants to the papacy, both elected by the cardinals, one in rome and one in avignon. this caused great confusion, as the church could, at one time, only have one legitimate successor of st. peter— and one faith, one lord, one baptism, one "seamless garment of christ". the schism had practically been brought about by france. the popes had been under french influence so long that it appeared to france a political necessity to have the pope reside in a french area, and pious frenchmen felt themselves somewhat responsible for the sins and scandals of the schism. hence the melancholy piety of gerson, pierre d'ailly and their companions, and the energy with which they strove to bring the schism to an end. during the lifetime of clement vii, the university of paris, led by pierre d'aiily, gerson and nicholas of clémanges, met in deliberation about the state of christendom, and resolved that the schism could be ended in three ways,—by cession, if both popes renounced the office unconditionally, by arbitration, or by a general council. clement died. the king of france, urged by the university, sent orders that no new pope should be elected. but, the cardinals held their election first, and only then opened the king's letter. in the new elections, however, both at rome and avignon, the influence of paris was so much felt that each of the new popes swore to cede if his rival would do likewise.
jean gerson
the early death of gregory xi, however, caused the great schism. clement vii and benedict xiii reigned again in avignon overall therefore it was nine popes who succeeded in the papal palace and enriched themselves during their pontificate.









































from then on until the french revolution, avignon and the comtat were papal possessions: first under the schismatic popes of the great schism, then under the popes of rome ruling via legates until 1542, and then by vice-legates. the black death appeared at avignon in 1348 killing almost two-thirds of the city's population.
history of avignon