POPES

ANTIPOPE JOHN XXIII

by Deb McCoy | Mar 21, 2024 | Popes

Baldassare Cossa was born around 1370, became “Pope” John XXIII in 1410 and died as Cardinal-Bishop of Tusculum on November 22, 1419. Cossa was born on the island of Procida in the Kingdom of Naples. His father, Giovanni was the lord of the island, but was no longer a...

POPE ALEXANDER V, A THIRD POPE AT THE SAME TIME!

by Deb McCoy | Mar 7, 2024 | Popes

Pope Alexander V is a difficult man to categorize. Sometime around 1339, a child was born near Neapoli, on the island of Crete, or Candia, as it was called. His parents and relatives soon disappeared, and he was left to his own devices, becoming a beggar on the...

POPE GREGORY XII, THE END OF THE WESTERN SCHISM

by Deb McCoy | Feb 22, 2024 | Popes

If you think following the story of Avignon and the Western Schism has been difficult, sit down. The papacy under Gregory XII is even more confusing. Angelo Corrario, the future Pope Gregory XII, was born somewhere between 1325 and 1335, of a prominent Venetian...

POPE INNOCENT VII, ATTEMPTING TO END THE WESTERN SCHISM

by Deb McCoy | Feb 14, 2024 | Popes

 Pope Innocent VII was the third Roman pope during the Western schism, which ran from 1378 to 1417.                Born around 1339, Cosimo de Migliorati was from a simple, humble family from...

POPE URBAN VI, A CONTRARY MAN

by Deb McCoy | Jan 31, 2024 | Popes

This pope was neither French nor Italian (at that time), but from the Kingdom of Naples. He was born about 1318 and given the name Bartolomeo Prignano. A very intelligent man, he was a monk, trained at Avignon. In 1364, he was named archbishop of Acerenza, Kingdom of...

POPE URBAN VI, A CONTRARY MAN

by Deb McCoy | Nov 26, 2023 | Popes

Medieval Italian soldiers This pope was neither French nor Italian (at that time), but from the Kingdom of Naples. He was born about 1318 and given the name Bartolomeo Prignano. A very intelligent man, he was a monk, trained at Avignon. In 1364, he was named...