Christ's Faithful People
Christ's Faithful People
1404 - 1406 AD
When Boniface IX died there were present in Rome delegates from the Avignon claimant, Benedict XIII. The cardinals asked these delegates if their master would abdicate if the cardinals refrained from holding an election. Only after they were bluntly told that Benedict would never abdicate did the cardinals proceed to an election. Even then, each cardinal took an oath that if elected he would do everything possible, even abdicate, to end the schism. The man they chose was the able and pious Cosimo de' Migliorati, who took the name Innocent VII.
Cosimo de' Migliorati was born at Sulmona in the Abruzzi at some time around 1336. Though of humble origin, he secured a good education at Perugia, Padua, and Bologna. After teaching law at Perugia and Padua, Cosimo went to Rome and entered the papal service under Urban VI. He served as a papal collector in England for ten years. He was made bishop of Bologna in 1386, archbishop of Ravenna in 1387 and a cardinal in 1400. Boniface IX leaned heavily on him in his last painful years, when stones impaired his capacity for business.
Pious as well as learned, Innocent immediately took steps to end the schism. He called a council to discuss ways and means to the desired end; but before the council could meet, Rome was in an uproar. A rebellion broke out which was subdued only with the aid of Ladislaus, king of Naples. But Ladislaus exacted a high price. He insisted that the Pope should make no agreement which might prejudice the rights of Ladislaus to Naples. Since the French still had their eyes on Naples, this might complicate any negotiations to end the schism. Then too, Ladislaus began to encroach on the papal territory. Encouraged by Ladislaus, a Roman faction once more rebelled and sent the Pope flying to Viterbo. Though the Romans welcomed him back, it is easy to see that such broils left little time to work on healing the schism.
Disturbed as was his pontificate, Innocent VII had great plans for restoring the University of Rome. He also tried to reform the curia. But he had neither the peace nor the time necessary to accomplish much, for on November 6,1406, this able but frustrated Pope passed away. He was a good man whose only fault was nepotism. That he was unable to end the agony of the schism is due more to the stormy circumstances of his reign than to any bad will on his part.
