How Did the Council of Constance Resolve the Great Schism

Question

Examlex · Accepted Answer

The Answer is The Council of Constance, which took place from 1414 to 1418, resolved the Great Schism (also known as the Western Schism) by deposing or accepting the resignation of the three rival popes and electing a new pope, Martin V, thereby restoring unity to the Roman Catholic Church.

The Great Schism began in 1378 when the papacy returned to Rome from Avignon, but the election of Urban VI as pope led to discontent due to his temperament and reforms. Some cardinals declared his election invalid and elected Clement VII as an antipope, who then resided in Avignon. This split the allegiance of Europe's Catholic states.

By the time the Council of Constance was convened by Emperor Sigismund, there were three claimants to the papal throne: Pope Gregory XII in Rome, Antipope John XXIII in Pisa, and Antipope Benedict XIII in Avignon.

The council, which was attended by church leaders, theologians, and representatives of secular authorities, aimed to end the schism, reform the church, and address the heresies of John Wycliffe and Jan Hus.

To resolve the schism, the council first deposed or persuaded to resign the three rival popes:

1. John XXIII was deposed by the council.
2. Gregory XII formally resigned and authorized the council to elect his successor, legitimizing the council's actions.
3. Benedict XIII refused to step down but was eventually deposed by the council.

With all three papal claimants out of the way, the council elected Cardinal Oddone Colonna, who took the name Martin V, as the new pope on November 11, 1417. His election was widely accepted, effectively ending the schism and restoring a single papal authority to the Roman Catholic Church.

The Council of Constance is considered a significant event in church history because it not only ended the schism but also raised important questions about the authority and structure of the church, setting the stage for future reforms and the eventual Protestant Reformation.

How Did the Council of Constance Resolve the Great Schism

Definitions: