Catholicism's Darkest Hour: Avignon and the Western Schism

In 1309, Pope Clement V relocated the papal court to Avignon, France, initiating a nearly 70-year period of French influence over the Catholic Church. But when the papacy finally returned to Rome in 1377, it triggered an even greater crisis: the Great Western Schism. For nearly four decades, rival popes in Rome, Avignon, and eventually Pisa claimed supreme authority over Christendom, dividing European monarchies and shaking the foundations of medieval religious power. Join us as we trace the geopolitical tensions, cardinal rivalries, and council decrees that led to the division, and ultimate reunification, of the Western Church. 00:00 - Introduction 00:45 - How We Got Here 03:56 - The History 11:43 - Impact on Society at the Time 13:19 - Enduring Impact on Society 15:38 - Outro #History #MedievalHistory #CatholicChurch #AvignonPapacy #WesternSchism #Documentary 📌 Related Playlist: Christianity: A History    • Christianity: A History   📖 Media Attribution: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18...