Western Schism facts for kids
The Western Schism was a big disagreement in the Roman Catholic Church. It happened between the years 1378 and 1417. During this time, more than one person claimed to be the true pope. This caused a lot of confusion!
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What Was the Western Schism?
The Western Schism was a time when the Christian world was split. It was not about different beliefs. Instead, it was about who should be the leader of the Church. This leader is called the Pope. For many years, there were two or even three popes at once! Each one had their own supporters.
Why Did the Schism Happen?
The main reasons for this split were political. They were not about religious ideas. In 1309, the Pope moved from Rome, Italy, to Avignon, France. This made many people unhappy. They felt the Pope should be in Rome.
In 1377, Pope Gregory XI moved back to Rome. He died soon after. Then, a new Pope was elected in Rome. But some French cardinals did not like this choice. They said the election was not fair.
Two Popes, Then Three!
These French cardinals then elected their own Pope. He stayed in Avignon. So, now there were two Popes! One in Rome and one in Avignon. Each Pope said he was the real one. Countries and leaders had to choose which Pope to support. This made things very complicated across Europe.
Later, in 1409, a group tried to fix the problem. They held a meeting called the Council of Pisa. They tried to remove both Popes. Then, they elected a third Pope! But the first two Popes refused to step down. So, now there were three Popes! This made the problem even worse.
How Did the Schism End?
The situation with multiple Popes lasted for nearly 40 years. It caused a lot of trouble. People were confused about who to follow. It also weakened the power of the Church. Everyone wanted to find a way to end the split.
The Council of Constance
Finally, a very important meeting was held. It was called the Council of Constance. This meeting took place from 1414 to 1418. Many Church leaders and rulers attended. Their main goal was to fix the schism.
The Council worked hard to solve the problem. They convinced two of the Popes to step down. The third Pope was removed. Then, in 1417, they elected a new Pope. His name was Martin V. Everyone agreed he was the one true Pope. This finally ended the Western Schism.
See also
In Spanish: Cisma de Occidente para niños
