An Antipope is what the Roman Catholic Church considers to be a false claimant to be the Bishop of Rome, and, by the nature of that position, the leader of the universal church. At several instances within the church’s history, various figures arose to claim the position, including Hippolytus of Rome and Novatian.
Who Was Hippolytus of Rome?
Hippolytus of Rome is may be considered an antipope. During the third century, he came into conflict with Pope Callixtus I over Callixtus’s absolution of specific sins, and the loosening of penance requirements for heretics. Hippolytus was elected by others as Pope, and opposed both Pope Urban I and Pope Pontius over the same issues. Both Hippolytus and Pontian may have been exiled together to the Sardinian mines in 235 CE, where they were reconciled before their deaths.
Who Was Novatian?
Novatian was a church leader in Rome in the mid-3rd century. He came into conflict with various Popes at that time over his position that Christians who had lapsed under pressure due to possible persecution should not be forgiven and welcomed back into the church. He was opposed particularly to Cornelius, who was elected to the position of Bishop of Rome, while Novatian was elected by an opposing group. Cornelius was able to consolidate his position among the churches, and excommunicated Novatian for causing a schism within the church.
Get the latest articles delivered to your inbox
Sign up to our Free Weekly NewsletterIt appears Novatian was never reconciled to the church. At this point, various antipopes would be elected more often as part of secular political maneuverings rather than theological disagreements within the church.
What Was the Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy?
The most prominent of these maneuverings resulted in the Western Schism of the church in the late 1300s and early 1400s, a period sometimes known as the Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy. During this time, church leaders in Rome and Avignon, France, as well as Pisa, Italy, all claimed to be the Pope at the same time.
In 1309 the Papacy had moved to Avignon, France, and was under consistent complaints of corruption. Pope Gregory XI had then moved the Papacy back to Rome in 1377, and upon his death controversy arose as to the next Pope. The Roman leaders wanted to keep the head of the church to remain in Rome, and elected Urban VI as the next Pope. However, several Bishops who had elected Urban VI began to regret their decision, and moved and elected Clement VII as the next Pope, who eventually set up his papacy back in Avignon.
Which Popes Took on Leadership During the Western Schism?
Their successors, Boniface IX in Rome and Benedict XIII in Avignon continued the dispute. Innocent VII was elected after Boniface, following some attempts to reconcile if Benedict would resign, which he refused. Gregory XII would follow Innocent shortly afterward.
Attempts to call a church council were made, but as the Pope was the only one who could call a council, and the two sides could not agree on a Pope, neither would recognize the legitimacy of the council. Cardinals then decided to call a council anyway in 1409 in Pisa, where a THIRD pope would be elected – Alexander V (who died shortly afterward) and then John XXIII.
John XXIII then called the Council of Constance in 1414, where both he and Gregory abdicated, excommunicated Benedict for his refusal to abdicate, and then elected Martin V, who would become uncontested Pope upon the death of Benedict and the resignation of Benedicts successor, Clement VIII.
In a span of under 40 years, the Western Schism involved 8 different men claiming to be Pope from 3 different cities and two councils. While the church has dealt with antipopes until about the late 1500s, most were disputes that were due to most of the papacy coming from European nobility, and involved with the various intrigues and controversies stemming from politics.
