It may sound impossible to imagine — two men both claiming to be the Pope. Yet history tells us that this did happen, not because there were truly two Popes, but because there were times of confusion and division when different groups of Christians supported different claimants to the papacy.
The most famous example is known as the Western Schism (1378–1417). After Pope Gregory XI died, the people of Rome demanded an Italian Pope, and Urban VI was elected. However, many cardinals, feeling pressured by the crowd, declared that election invalid and chose Clement VII, who set up a rival papal court in Avignon, France. For nearly forty years, the Church was divided — some countries followed the Pope in Rome, others followed the Pope in Avignon. Later, a third claimant even appeared, making the situation even more painful for the faithful.
The Church finally resolved the crisis at the Council of Constance (1414–1418). All claimants either resigned or were deposed, and Pope Martin V was elected, restoring unity to the Church. From that point forward, there has always been only one legitimate Pope at a time.
It’s important to remember that during these times, only one of the claimants was truly the valid Pope — the others were what we now call antipopes. These divisions never destroyed the Church; instead, they revealed how deeply the faithful longed for unity and truth.
Today, even when a Pope retires — as Pope Benedict XVI did in 2013 — the Church remains united under one reigning Holy Father. Benedict took the humble title Pope Emeritus and lived quietly in prayer, never exercising papal authority again. His example showed that even in modern times, the unity of the Church remains sacred.
The history of “two Popes” reminds us that human weakness can cause confusion, but the Holy Spirit always leads the Church back to unity. Christ’s promise still stands: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.” (Matthew 16:18)
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
