Changes

===Late Middle Ages: 1000-1500===

===Late Middle Ages: 1000-1500===

The 14th century was the scene of dramatic humiliations that reduced the secular power and religious prestige of the papacy. The French king made his man Pope and moved the papal court to Avignon in France, 1309-1377. During the "Babylonian Captivity" of the papacy, seven French popes were seen as mere tools of France. Avignon was not a holy city, like Rome, and the men there were scarcely concerned with holiness; the papal entourage demanded bribes and fees to deal with terns of thousands of petitions that flooded in. As the paperwork and expenses multiplied and the prestige of the Papacy slipped.<ref>Ullmann (2002) p. 287</ref>  The return to Rome in 1378 was followed by an even greater catastrophe. A split between French and Italian factions in the Curia resulted in the "Great Schism" of 1378-1417, during which Rome and Avignon each had their own series of popes, who claimed legitimacy and authority over the church.  After enormous confusion the decision was made to appeal to a church council. The Council of Constance healed the schism in 1415.  

The 14th century was the scene of dramatic humiliations that reduced the secular power and religious prestige of the papacy. The French king made his man Pope and moved the papal court to Avignon in France, 1309-1377. During the "Babylonian Captivity" of the papacy, seven French popes were seen as mere tools of France. Avignon was not a holy city, like Rome, and the men there were scarcely concerned with holiness; the papal entourage demanded bribes and fees to deal with terns of thousands of petitions that flooded in. As the paperwork and expenses multiplied and the prestige of the Papacy slipped.<ref>Ullmann (2002) p. 287</ref>  The return to Rome in 1378 was followed by an even greater catastrophe. A split between French and Italian factions in the Curia resulted in the "Great Schism" of 1378-1417, during which Rome and Avignon each had their own series of popes, who claimed legitimacy and authority over the church.  After enormous confusion the decision was made to appeal to a church council. The [[Council of Constance]] healed the schism in 1415.  

The Council issued the decree ''Sacrosancta,'' (April 1415)  asserting that in matters  touching the faith and the unification and reform of the Church, a general council stood above all other authority, including papal.  Another decree ''Frequens,'' (October 1417) tried to set controls on the pope and cardinals  and proposed that a new council meet within five years and be convened regularly every ten years thereafter.  The Church was on the verge of a constritutional revolution that would have shifted power from the pope to the bishops. However the papal forces fought back and by defeating the Council of Basel (1431-1449) regained control.  

The Council issued the decree ''Sacrosancta,'' (April 1415)  asserting that in matters  touching the faith and the unification and reform of the Church, a general council stood above all other authority, including papal.  Another decree ''Frequens,'' (October 1417) tried to set controls on the pope and cardinals  and proposed that a new council meet within five years and be convened regularly every ten years thereafter.  The Church was on the verge of a constritutional revolution that would have shifted power from the pope to the bishops. However the papal forces fought back and by defeating the Council of Basel (1431-1449) regained control.