Understanding Antipopes in the Catholic Church
Antipope is a term used in the Catholic Church to describe a person who claims to be the Pope, but is not recognized as such by the majority of the Church. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as a disputed election, a claimant who is not legitimately ordained, or a schism within the Church.
There have been several instances of antipopes throughout history, including:
1. Anacletus II (1130-1138): During the Pontificate of Pope Calixtus II, a rival faction elected an antipope named Anacletus II, who was supported by the Holy Roman Emperor Lothair III.
2. Victor IV (1159-1164): After the death of Pope Adrian IV, a group of cardinals elected Victor IV as Pope, but he was not recognized by the majority of the Church.
3. Paschal III (1164-1168): Victor IV died in 1164, and was succeeded by Paschal III, who was also not recognized as Pope by the majority of the Church.
4. Alexander III (1159-1181): During the Pontificate of Alexander III, there were several antipopes, including Lucius III, who was supported by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I.
5. John XXIII (1410-1415): This antipope was elected during the Western Schism, a period of division within the Church that lasted from 1378 to 1417. He was not recognized as Pope by the majority of the Church.
6. Benedict XIII (1394-1423): Another antipope who emerged during the Western Schism, he was supported by King Martin I of Sicily and the Cardinal Legate Pierre de la Chapelle.
7. Clement VIII (1423-1429): This antipope was elected after the death of Benedict XIII, but was not recognized as Pope by the majority of the Church.
It is important to note that the Catholic Church has a process for resolving disputes over papal elections and addressing claims of antipopes. The process typically involves an investigation into the validity of the election and the qualifications of the claimant, and may involve the intervention of a council or other Church authorities.
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