He reluctantly left his solitude for the Papacy, and esigned through humility, and love of retirement and contemplation

This Pope, and some of his successors, resided at Avignon, 14
France.

Vacancy of two years, three months, and seventeen days.

This Pope went to reside at Rome. Urban has gone, but returned

to Avignon.

204 Urban VI.

Prignano,

Naples,

1378

11 € 6

Commencement of the great schism, caused by some of the Cardinals having retired to Avignon, and there declaring, that they chose Urban by constraint, and under coercion: elected Robert Geneve, an Antipope, who took the name of Clement VIL, and he was supported by several princes.

The Council of Constance, in order to terminate the schism, and to restore the peace of the Church, required of the Pope and his competitors to resign his right and their pretensions. Gregory XII who had been deposed at Pisa, gave his formal resignation; Joh XXIII. hesitating, he was deposed, and Peter de Luna was feclared destitute of authority. The See was then vacant two years, fire months, and ten days.

21 Martin V.

Colonna,

Rome,

1417

13 3 a

Egidius, called Clement VIII., Antipope, succeeded to Peter de Luna'in 1424, and in 1429 he made his submission to Martin, and thus terminated the great schism.

211 Eugenius IV. Condulmero,

Venice,

1431

15 11 20

Amadeus, Duke of Savoy, called Felix V., Antipope, from 1439 t 1449, when he was reconciled to Nicholas.

In the preceding catalogue, the reader will perceive a number of antipopes, some schisms, and a few years of vacancy. Several of our adversaries have thence argued a cessation of the succession. A very few remarks will suffice to show the fallacy of their argument.

It is no destruction of power in a rightful possessor, that an ambitious opponent should endeavor to wrest it from him. The true pope was known by the judgment of the church, rightly informed of the merits of the claims; ard though some doubt may exist during the discussion yet the decision terminates this doubt. A schism is but an obstinate continuance of the contest, and however protracted it may have been, each schism was terminated by the acknowledgment of the lawful successor. A vacancy is always unpleasant, but during its existence there is a provisional presidency, and the authority is preserved.

When we contemplate the efforts made by ambition, by tyranny, by vice, by heresy, and by so many other agents of destruction, to ruin the holy See; when we see human establishments fallen and forgotten, and view this succession continued for eighteen centuries; we must say, "It is truly the work of God."