The Great Western Schism: Differences and Similitudes with Today's Crisis - Fr. Nicolás E. Despósito

Summary

Fr. Nicolás E. Despósito addresses the historical crisis in the papacy known as the Great Western Schism, which spanned nearly 40 years between the 14th and 15th centuries. This crisis originated with the return of the papal residence from Avignon, France, to Rome under Pope Gregory XI in 1377. Following Gregory’s death, political tensions led to the election of two rival popes—Urban VI in Rome and Clement VII in Avignon—resulting in a divided Church and multiple claims to the papacy. A third claimant emerged following a council at Pisa, exacerbating the division. The schism was resolved at the Council of Constance (1414-1417), which led to the resignation of all claimants and the election of Pope Martin V, restoring unity.

Fr. Despósito draws a comparison between the Great Western Schism and the current crisis in the Church, which has persisted for over 60 years since the death of Pope Pius XII. Unlike the earlier schism, where all papal claimants were orthodox Catholics, today’s crisis involves a profound doctrinal rupture. The popes elected after Pius XII are argued not to be true popes due to their alleged promotion of a “new religion” incompatible with authentic Catholic faith, especially as exemplified by Pope Francis’s teachings. Fr. Despósito critiques the “recognize and resist” position, which acknowledges the legitimacy of these popes but refuses submission, calling it contradictory and un-Catholic.

Despite these differences, the homily identifies commonalities between the two crises: both involve prolonged periods of uncertainty regarding authority in the Church, testing the faith of the faithful. Fr. Despósito urges Catholics to respond not with despair or mediocrity, but with spiritual fidelity, prayer, and sanctity, citing saints who lived during the Great Western Schism as models. True sanctity is presented as faithfulness in ordinary duties and daily mortification through prayer, penance, and examination of conscience. The sermon concludes with an exhortation to trust in God’s promises and continue striving for holiness amid the crisis, confident that fidelity and prayer will bring resolution.

Highlights

• The Great Western Schism lasted nearly 40 years, with multiple rival popes dividing Europe.
• The crisis originated from the papacy’s return to Rome from Avignon and subsequent political tensions.
• The schism was resolved at the Council of Constance (1414-1417) with the election of Pope Martin V.
• Unlike the Schism, the current Church crisis involves a doctrinal rupture, not just legitimacy issues.
• The “recognize and resist” approach is criticized as un-Catholic for denying papal authority while recognizing papal legitimacy.
• Prolonged crises in Church authority test the faith of the Catholic faithful.
• Sanctity is achieved through faithful observance of simple daily duties, prayer, penance, and trust in God’s promises.

Key Insights

• Historical Context of Church Crises: The Great Western Schism demonstrates that crises over papal authority can endure for decades or even over a century, deeply dividing the Church politically and geographically. However, the crisis was strictly about legitimacy, not doctrinal faithfulness, which preserved Catholic orthodoxy despite the confusion. This highlights the complex interplay between politics and religion in Church history and the difficulty of resolving questions of legitimate authority.
• Difference Between Legitimacy and Orthodoxy: Fr. Despósito emphasizes that the Great Western Schism was a canonical dispute over the rightful pope, but all claimants upheld Catholic doctrine. In contrast, the present crisis involves a rupture at the doctrinal level, with post-Pius XII popes allegedly promoting teachings contradictory to traditional Catholicism. This distinction underscores the gravity of the current situation, suggesting it is not merely a question of canonical legitimacy but of faith itself.
• Critique of the “Recognize and Resist” Position: The homily critiques those who simultaneously acknowledge the legitimacy of post-Vatican II popes but refuse obedience, labeling this stance contradictory and un-Catholic. Saint Antoninus’s teaching is cited to affirm that in cases of doubt, the faithful should intend to obey the rightful pope. This insight stresses the importance of consistency in Catholic ecclesiology—legitimacy and obedience are inseparable in authentic Catholic submission to the papacy.
• Faith as the Core Test in Prolonged Crises: Both the Great Western Schism and the current crisis serve as tests of faith for Catholics. The endurance of a prolonged vacancy or crisis challenges believers to maintain trust in the Church and papal authority amid uncertainty and division. This insigh