Antipope John XXIII

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See also, 20th-century pope John XXIII

Image:Johannes XXIII Gegenpapst.jpg Baldassare Cossa, (about 1370 – November 22, 1419), also known as John XXIII,was Pope or antipope during the Western Schism (1410–1415) and is now officially regarded by the Catholic Church as an antipope.

Baldassare Cardinal Cossa was one of the seven cardinals who, in May of 1408, deserted Pope Gregory XII, and, with those belonging to the obedience of Antipope Benedict XIII, convened the Council of Pisa, of which Cossa became the leader. They elected Pope Alexander V in 1409. Cossa succeeded him a year later.

Edward Gibbon asserts in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire that John XXIII was charged with piracy, murder, rape, sodomy, and incest, with the more serious charges being suppressed. Of course, this needs to be viewed in the light of the political situation of the time, as the charges were likely trumped up; note the similarity to the charges against the Knights Templar.

He should not be confused with Pope John XXIII of the 20th century. The fact that for more than 500 years there was no Pope named John (vs. 23 in 1400 years) is probably due to the controversial figure this Antipope represented. When Cardinal Angelo Roncalli was elected and became Pope John, there was some confusion as to whether or not he would be John XXIII or John XXIV; he then declared that he was John XXIII to put this question to rest. The decision of the 20th century Pope John XXIII not to be named John XXIV as might be expected serves as a confirmation of the antipope status of this first John XXIII. It should be noted, however, that the numbering of the Popes called John is debatable (as there was no John XX); for example, Gibbon refers to the Antipope John as John XXIII. The origins of the North American student fraternity Kappa Sigma stem from Cossa's governorship of Bologna, where his campaign of assault and robbery against the students of the University of Bologna led to the formation of a secret organization under the teacher Manuel Chrysoloras for mutual protection against Cossa's robbers.

With the aid of the Emperor Sigismund, Pope John convened the Council of Constance in 1415. During the third session rival Pope Gregory XII authorized the council as well, and soon both Popes abdicated in favor of Pope Martin V. Cossa, as he was again, was briefly imprisoned in Germany before being freed by Martin V in 1418. He later died as cardinal bishop of Tusculum in 1419.

He is buried in a magnificent tomb in Florence.

[edit] See also

• Western Schism

[edit] External links

• Antipope John XXIII at The Catholic Encyclopedia

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