This week in Christian history: Pope Urban VI dies, Knights Templar arrested, Martin Luther debates cardinal
Pope Urban VI dies – Oct. 15, 1389
This week marks the anniversary of when Pope Urban VI, whose reign included increase divisiveness between Rome and the cardinals of France, died.
Born Bartolomeo Prignano of Naples, Urban VI was elected in 1378 to succeed Pope Gregory XI, whom he served as papal chancellor and immediately became a source of controversy.
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“Thirteen French cardinals — fearing that the majority in the Sacred College would be turned against them by a new promotion of Italians — left Rome,” explained Britannica.
“At Anagni, four months later, they declared Urban’s election as ‘null because it was not made freely but under fear.’ At Fondi, on Sept. 20, 1378, they elected the French cardinal Robert of Geneva, who became antipope Clement VII. Thus began the Western Schism that wracked the Roman Church for 40 years.”
His exact cause of death is the subject of dispute, with some claiming he was poisoned by an unknown party while others say he died from injuries sustained after being thrown from a mule.
