Antipope


An antipope is a person who, in opposition to the lawful pope, makes a significant attempt to occupy the position of Bishop of Rome and leader of the Catholic Church. At times between the 3rd and mid-15th centuries, antipopes were supported by important factions within the Church itself and by secular rulers.
Sometimes it was difficult to distinguish which of two claimants should be called pope and which antipope, as in the case of Pope Leo VIII and Pope Benedict V.
Persons who merely claim to be pope and have few followers, such as the modern sedevacantist antipopes, are not classified with the historical antipopes.

History

is commonly considered to be the earliest antipope, as he headed a separate group within the Church in Rome against Pope Callixtus I. Hippolytus was reconciled to Callixtus's second successor, Pope Pontian, and both he and Pontian are honoured as saints by the Catholic Church with a shared feast day on 13 August. Whether two or more persons have been confused in this account of Hippolytus and whether Hippolytus actually declared himself to be the Bishop of Rome, remains unclear, since no such claim by Hippolytus has been cited in the writings attributed to him.
Eusebius quotes from an unnamed earlier writer the story of Natalius, a 3rd-century priest who accepted the bishopric of the Adoptionists, a heretical group in Rome. Natalius soon repented and tearfully begged Pope Zephyrinus to receive him into communion.
Novatian, another third-century figure, certainly claimed the See of Rome in opposition to Pope Cornelius, and if Natalius and Hippolytus were excluded because of the uncertainties concerning them, Novatian could then be said to be the first antipope.
The period in which antipopes were most numerous was during the struggles between the popes and the Holy Roman Emperors of the 11th and 12th centuries. The emperors frequently imposed their own nominees to further their own causes. The popes, likewise, sometimes sponsored rival imperial claimants in Germany to overcome a particular emperor.
The Western Schism—which began in 1378, when the French cardinals, claiming that the election of Pope Urban VI was invalid, elected antipope Clement VII as a rival to the Roman Pope—led eventually to two competing lines of antipopes: the Avignon line, and the Pisan line. The Pisan line, which began in 1409, was named after the town of Pisa, Italy, where the council had elected antipope Alexander V as a third claimant. To end the schism, in May 1415, the Council of Constance deposed antipope John XXIII of the Pisan line. Pope Gregory XII of the Roman line resigned in July 1415. In 1417, the Council also formally deposed antipope Benedict XIII of Avignon, but he refused to resign. Afterwards, Pope Martin V was elected and was accepted everywhere except in the small and rapidly diminishing area that remained faithful to Benedict XIII. The scandal of the Western Schism created anti-papal sentiment and fed into the Protestant Reformation at the turn of the 16th century.

List of historical antipopes

The following table gives the names of the antipopes included in the list of popes and antipopes in the Annuario Pontificio, with the addition of the names of Natalius and Antipope Clement VIII.
An asterisk marks those who were included in the conventional numbering of later Popes who took the same name. More commonly, the antipope is ignored in later papal regnal numbers; for example, there was an Antipope John XXIII, but the new Pope John elected in 1958 was also called John XXIII. For the additional confusion regarding Popes named John, see Pope John.
The list of popes and antipopes in the Annuario Pontificio attaches the following note to the name of Pope Leo VIII :

At this point, as again in the mid-11th century, we come across elections in which problems of harmonising historical criteria and those of theology and canon law make it impossible to decide clearly which side possessed the legitimacy whose factual existence guarantees the unbroken lawful succession of the successors of Saint Peter. The uncertainty that in some cases results has made it advisable to abandon the assignation of successive numbers in the list of the popes.

Thus, because of the obscurities about mid-11th-century canon law and the historical facts, the Annuario Pontificio lists Sylvester III as a pope, without thereby expressing a judgement on his legitimacy. The Catholic Encyclopedia places him in its List of Popes, but with the annotation: "Considered by some to be an antipope". Other sources classify him as an antipope.
Those with asterisks were counted in subsequent Papal numbering.
PontificateCommon English nameRegnal namePersonal namePlace of birthAge at election / Death or resignedYears as antipope NotesIn opposition to
c. 199 – c. 200NataliusNataliusNataliusc. 159 Rome, Roman Empire38 / 48 Later reconciled Zephyrinus
20 Dec 217 – 28 Sept 235Saint HippolytusHippolytusHippolytus170 Rome. Roman Empire45 / 65 Later reconciled with Pope Pontian Callixtus I
20 Dec 217 – 28 Sept 235Saint HippolytusHippolytusHippolytus170 Rome. Roman Empire45 / 65 Later reconciled with Pope Pontian Urban I
20 Dec 217 – 28 Sept 235Saint HippolytusHippolytusHippolytus170 Rome. Roman Empire45 / 65 Later reconciled with Pope Pontian Pontian
Mar 251 – Aug 258NovatianNovatianusNovatianc. 200 Rome, Roman Empire51 / 58 Founder of NovatianismCornelius
Mar 251 – Aug 258NovatianNovatianusNovatianc. 200 Rome, Roman Empire51 / 58 Founder of NovatianismLucius I
Mar 251 – Aug 258NovatianNovatianusNovatianc. 200 Rome, Roman Empire51 / 58 Founder of NovatianismStephen I
Mar 251 – Aug 258NovatianNovatianusNovatianc. 200 Rome, Roman Empire51 / 58 Founder of NovatianismSixtus II
20 Apr 309 – 16 Aug 310HeracliusHeracliusHeracliusc. 265 Rome, Roman Empire45 / 46 Eusebius
355 – 26 Nov 365Felix II*Felix secundusFelixc. 270 Rome, Roman Empire80 / 90 Installed by Roman Emperor Constantius IILiberius
1 Oct 366 – 16 Nov 367UrsicinusUrsicinusUrsinusc. 200 Rome, Roman Empire66 / 67 Damasus I
27 December 418 – 3 April 419EulaliusEulaliusEulaliusc. 370 Rome, Roman Empire38 / 39 Boniface I
22 Nov 498 – Aug 506/08LaurentiusLaurentiusLorenzo Celioc. 460 Rome, Roman Empire38 / 46 Supported by Byzantine emperor Anastasius ISymmachus
22 Sep 530 – 14 Oct 530DioscorusDioscurusDióskorosc. 450 Alexandria70 / 70 Boniface II
21 Sep 687TheodoreTheodorusTheodorec. 599 Rome, Western Roman Empire88 / 88 Sergius I
21 Sep 687Paschal PaschalisPascalec. 598 Rome, Western Roman Empire89 / 89 Sergius I
28 Jun 767 – 6 Aug 768Constantine IIConstantinus secundusKonstantinusc. 700 Rome, Western Roman Empire67 / 68 Between Paul I and Stephen III
31 Jul 768PhilipPhilippusPhilipc. 701 Rome, Western Roman Empire68 / 68 Installed by envoy of Lombard King DesideriusStephen III
25 Jan – 31 May 844John VIIIJoannes octavusGiovannic. 800 Rome, Papal States44 / 44 Elected by acclamationSergius II
Jan 855 – 31 Mar 855Anastasius III BibliothecariusAnastasius tertiusAnastasiusc. 810 Rome, Papal States45 / 45 Benedict III
3 Oct 903 – 27 Jan 904ChristopherChristophorusChristoforoc. 850 Rome, Papal States53 / 54 Between Leo V and Sergius III
Jul 974Boniface VII*BonifaciusFranco Ferruccic. 900 Rome, Papal States73 / 73 and 84 / 85

total 364 days 		Between Benedict VI and Benedict VII
20 Aug 984 – 20 Jul 985Boniface VII*BonifaciusFranco Ferruccic. 900 Rome, Papal States73 / 73 and 84 / 85

total 364 days 		Between John XIV and John XV
Apr 997 – Feb 998John XVI*JoannesJohn Filagattoc. 941 Rossano, Calabria, Papal States 56 / 56 Supported by Byzantine emperor Basil IIGregory V
Jun 1012Gregory VIGregorius SextusGregorioc. 960 Rome, Papal States52 / 52 Benedict VIII
4 Apr 1058 – 24 Jan 1059Benedict X*Benedictus DecimusGiovanni Mincio dei Conti di Tusculoc. 1000 Rome, Papal States,58 / 59 Supported by the Counts of TusculumNicholas II
July 1061 – 31 May 1064Honorius IIHonorius SecundusPietro Cadalus1010 Verona, Papal States51 / 54 Supported by Agnes, regent of the Holy Roman EmpireAlexander II
25 Jun 1080, 21 Mar 1084 – 8 Sep 1100Clement IIIClemens TertiusGuibert of Ravennac. 1029 Parma, Papal States51 / 51, 54 / 71 Supported by Henry IV, Holy Roman EmperorGregory VII
25 Jun 1080, 21 Mar 1084 – 8 Sep 1100Clement IIIClemens TertiusGuibert of Ravennac. 1029 Parma, Papal States51 / 51, 54 / 71 Supported by Henry IV, Holy Roman EmperorVictor III
25 Jun 1080, 21 Mar 1084 – 8 Sep 1100Clement IIIClemens TertiusGuibert of Ravennac. 1029 Parma, Papal States51 / 51, 54 / 71 Supported by Henry IV, Holy Roman EmperorUrban II
25 Jun 1080, 21 Mar 1084 – 8 Sep 1100Clement IIIClemens TertiusGuibert of Ravennac. 1029 Parma, Papal States51 / 51, 54 / 71 Supported by Henry IV, Holy Roman EmperorPaschal II
8 Sep 1100 – Jan 1101TheodoricTheodoricusTheodoroc. 1030 Rome, Papal States,70 / 71 Successor to Clement IIIPaschal II
Jan 1101 – Feb 1102Adalbert or AlbertAdalbertusAlbertc. 1046 Atella, Campania, Papal States,55 / 56 Successor to TheodoricPaschal II
8 Nov 1105 – 11 Apr 1111Sylvester IVSylvester QuartusMaginulfc. 1050 Rome, Papal States49 / 55 Supported by Henry V, Holy Roman EmperorPaschal II
10 Mar 1118 – 22 Apr 1121Gregory VIIIGregorius OctavusMaurice Burdainc. 1057 Limousin, Occitania, France61 / 65 Supported by Henry V, Holy Roman EmperorGelasius II
10 Mar 1118 – 22 Apr 1121Gregory VIIIGregorius OctavusMaurice Burdainc. 1057 Limousin, Occitania, France61 / 65 Supported by Henry V, Holy Roman EmperorCallixtus II
16 Dec 1124Celestine IICœlestinus SecundusTeobaldo Boccapeccic. 1050 Rome, Papal States74 / 74 Honorius II
14 Feb 1130 – 25 Jan 1138Anacletus IIAnacletus SecundusPietro Pierleonic. 1090 Rome, Papal States48 / 48 Innocent II
23 Mar 1138Victor IVVictor QuartusGregorio Contic. 1057 Ceccano, Papal States81 / 81 Successor to Anacletus IIInnocent II
7 Sep 1159 – 20 Apr 1164Victor IVVictor QuartusOttavio di Montecelioc. 1095 Tivoli, Papal States64 / 69 Supported by Frederick I, Holy Roman EmperorAlexander III
22 Apr 1164 – 28 Sep 1168Paschal IIIPaschalis TertiusGuido di Cremac. 1110 Crema, Lombardy, Papal States54 / 58 Supported by Frederick I, Holy Roman EmperorAlexander III
Sep 1168 – 29 Aug 1178Callixtus IIICallixtus TertiusGiovanni of Strumac. 1090 Arezzo, Papal States78 / 88 Supported by Frederick I, Holy Roman EmperorAlexander III
29 Sep 1179 – Jan 1180Innocent IIIInnocentius TertiusLanzo of Sezzac. 1120 Sezze, Papal States59 / 60 Supported by Frederick I, Holy Roman EmperorAlexander III
12 May 1328 – 12 Aug 1330Nicholas VNicolaus QuintusPietro Rainalduccic. 1258 Corvaro, Papal States70 / 74 Supported by Louis IV, Holy Roman EmperorJohn XXII
20 Sep 1378 – 16 Sep 1394Clement VIIClemensRobert of Geneva1342 Annecy, France36/52 AvignonUrban VI
20 Sep 1378 – 16 Sep 1394Clement VIIClemensRobert of Geneva1342 Annecy, France36/52 AvignonBoniface IX
28 Sep 1394 – 23 May 1423Benedict XIIIBenedictusPedro de Luna25 November 1328 Illueca, Aragon65/94 AvignonBoniface IX
28 Sep 1394 – 23 May 1423Benedict XIIIBenedictusPedro de Luna25 November 1328 Illueca, Aragon65/94 AvignonInnocent VII
28 Sep 1394 – 23 May 1423Benedict XIIIBenedictusPedro de Luna25 November 1328 Illueca, Aragon65/94 AvignonGregory XII
28 Sep 1394 – 23 May 1423Benedict XIIIBenedictusPedro de Luna25 November 1328 Illueca, Aragon65/94 AvignonMartin V
25 Jun 1409 – 3 May 1410Alexander V*AlexanderPietro Philarghic. 1339 Crete, Republic of Venice70 / 71 PisaGregory XII
25 May 1410 – 29 May 1415John XXIIIIoannes Vicecimus TertiusBaldassare Cossac. 136545 / 50 PisaGregory XII
10 Jun 1423 – 26 Jul 1429Clement VIIIClemens OctavusGil Sánchez Muñoz y Carbón1370 Teruel, Aragon52 / 59 AvignonMartin V
1424–1430Benedict XIVBenedictus Quartus DecimusBernard Garnier1370 France54 / 59 Claimed successor to Benedict XIII Martin V
1430–1437Benedict XIVBenedictus Quartus DecimusJean Carrierc. 1370 France59 / 66 The "hidden pope" Martin V
5 Nov 1439 – 7 Apr 1449Felix VFœlixDuke Amadeus VIII of Savoy4 September 1383 Chambéry, Savoy56/65 Elected by the Council of BaselEugene IV
5 Nov 1439 – 7 Apr 1449Felix VFœlixDuke Amadeus VIII of Savoy4 September 1383 Chambéry, Savoy56/65 Elected by the Council of BaselNicholas V

Quasi-cardinal-nephews

Many antipopes created cardinals, known as quasi-cardinals, and a few created cardinal-nephews, known as quasi-cardinal-nephews.
Quasi-cardinalNephew ofElevatedNotes
Giacomo AlbertiAntipope Nicholas V15 May 1328Excommunicated by Pope John XXII.
Amedeo SaluzzoAntipope Clement VII23 December 1383Abandoned Antipope Benedict XIII after having been deposed by him on 21 October 1408; participated in the Council of Pisa, the election of Pope Alexander V, the Council of Constance, and the conclave of Pope Martin V.
Tommaso BrancaccioAntipope John XXIII6 June 1411Attended the Council of Constance, and the conclave of Pope Martin V.
Gil Sánchez MuñozAntipope Clement VIII26 July 1429Submitted to Pope Martin V after his uncle abdicated.

Modern claimants to papacy

In modern times various people claim to be pope and, though they do not fit the technical definition of "antipope", are sometimes referred to as such. They are usually leaders of sedevacantist groups who view the See of Rome as vacant and elect someone to fill it. They are sometimes referred to as conclavists because of their claim, on the basis of an election by a "conclave" of perhaps half a dozen laypeople, as in the case of David Bawden, to have rendered the See no longer vacant. A significant number of these have taken the name "Peter II", owing to its special significance. From the point of view of the Catholic Church, they are schismatics, and as such are automatically excommunicated.

Collinites

The Palmarian Catholic Church regards Pope Paul VI, whom they revere as a martyr, and his predecessors as true popes, but hold, on the grounds of claimed apparitions, that the Pope of Rome is excommunicated and that the position of the Holy See has, since 1978, been transferred to the See of El Palmar de Troya.

Other examples

The following were elected by allegedly faithful Catholics, none of whom were cardinals:
As the Patriarch of Alexandria, Egypt, has historically also held the title of Pope, a person who, in opposition to someone who is generally accepted as a legitimate Pope of Alexandria, claims to hold that position may also be considered an Antipope. In 2006, the defrocked married Coptic lector Max Michel became an Antipope of Alexandria, calling himself Maximos I. His claim to the Alexandrine Papacy was dismissed by both the Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III and Pope Theodore II of the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria. The Coptic Pope of Alexandria and the Greek Pope of Alexandria currently view one another, not as Antipopes, but rather as successors to differing lines of apostolic succession that formed as a result of christological disputes in the fifth century.
Another Coptic Antipope is known to have laid claim in the fourth century. His name was Gregory of Cappadocia.

In fiction

Antipopes have appeared as fictional characters. These may be either in historical fiction, as fictional portraits of well-known historical antipopes or as purely imaginary antipopes.