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Reus, Pere de Luna and the Western Schism

The Schism of the West or Papal Schism is the expression used to refer to the period of crisis experienced between 1378 and 1417, during which two rival popes, one established in Rome and the other in Avignon, respectively considered themselves the only legitimate pope. From the Council of Pisa (1409), there were three rival popes. The Schism was resolved with the Council of Constance (1417), which elected a new and unique pope recognized by all of Christendom: Martin V.

It all started with the death of Gregory XI and the election of Urban VI, who soon created a strong controversy around him, among other questions about whether the seat of the papacy should be Rome or Avignon (between 1305 and 1377, Avignon had been the seat of the papacy, and this fact was seen by many as an anomaly). Thus, the opponents of Urban VI, with the corresponding political support, gathered in the city of Fondi and elected a new pope, Clement II, arguing that the election of Urban II had not been legitimate. The coexistence of the two popes was perpetuated with the successions that took place in the following years: Urban VI was succeeded in 1389 by Boniface IX, Innocent VII in 1404, and Gregory XII from 1406 to 1417; in turn, Clement VII was succeeded in 1394 by Benedict XIII. The existence of the two popes gave rise to the division of Latin Christendom into two factions, according to which the political powers of the time were aligned. In the case of the Catalan kings, after the death of Pere the Ceremonious, who had remained indifferent to the choice, they opted for Benedict XIII.

Peter de Luna

Pedro Martínez de Luna, better known as Papa Luna, antipope Benedict XIII or Benedict XIII of Avignon, was born in 1328 in Aragon and died in his retreat in Peñíscola in 1423.

In 1387 he was appointed by Clement VII canon and waiter of the Cathedral of Tarragona, charge that carried a part of the seigniory of Reus. In 1397, when he was in Avignon, in front of the Castlà's debts John of Olzinelles, the other lord of Reus, bought the castlania for 50.000 sous, and remained as sole lord of the town.

When he was appointed pope, Reus experienced the privilege of the pope being lord of the town at the same time. As pope, Pere de Luna visited the city in November 1410, on his way from exile to Peñíscola.

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