*The ''Western Schism'' (1378-1417) was an argument within the Roman Catholic Church resulting in French cardinals electing an "[[antipope]]" (Clement VII of Avignon, France) in order to dispute the authority of the recently elected Pope Urban VI. In 1409, a third antipope (John XXIII) existed in Pisa, Italy. <ref>Catholic Encyclopedia 1913, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13539a.htm</ref> This and other controversies set the stage for the Protestant Reformation. | *The ''Western Schism'' (1378-1417) was an argument within the Roman Catholic Church resulting in French cardinals electing an "[[antipope]]" (Clement VII of Avignon, France) in order to dispute the authority of the recently elected Pope Urban VI. In 1409, a third antipope (John XXIII) existed in Pisa, Italy. <ref>Catholic Encyclopedia 1913, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13539a.htm</ref> This and other controversies set the stage for the Protestant Reformation. |