Pope from April 8, 1378 - October 15, 1389
Lived: c. 1318 - October 15, 1389
Birth name: Bartolomeo Prignano
Who was this guy before he was pope?
Bartolomeo Prignano was a native of Naples and came from humble origins. Little is known about his early life, other than having traveled to Avignon early in his life to be educated and trained in the service of the Church. He was named Archbishop of Acerenza in 1364, then became Archbishop of Bari in 1377. In the meantime, he also served as vice-chancellor and administrator of the Papal States, becoming one of the most influential non-cardinals in the Roman Curia. He was noted especially for his business sense and frugality, which made him particularly attractive for his next job.
Okay, give me the scoop on Urban VI.
The first conclave to grace Rome in 75 years was a real doozy. French cardinals outnumbered Italians nearly three-to-one, but despite the majority they couldn’t agree on a candidate among themselves. When Urban was chosen, word spread so quickly that Romans soon surrounded the cardinals’ enclosure in excitement, with some unruly folks even breaking in and demanding to see the new pontiff. After a few months, this fact was embellished by the French cardinals, who fled Rome following the election to claim that the Romans had forced their hand in electing Urban and to justify their elevation of the “real pope” in Avignon, Antipope Clement VII. Canon lawyers of the day, however, said, “Nice try.”
Urban VI was renowned by those who knew him for his purity, temperance, and simple tastes. His undoing, though, was his profound lack of “Christian gentleness and charity,” as historian Ludwig Pastor described it. This made him, to put it lightly, rather unfit to reform the Church (as you’ll read in a moment). Urban’s 11 years in office were some of the most disastrous of that era, but he was at least adamant about keeping the papacy in Rome.
Urban VI was renowned by those who knew him for his purity, temperance, and simple tastes. His undoing, though, was his profound lack of “Christian gentleness and charity,” as historian Ludwig Pastor described it. This made him, to put it lightly, rather unfit to reform the Church (as you’ll read in a moment). Urban’s 11 years in office were some of the most disastrous of that era, but he was at least adamant about keeping the papacy in Rome.
Urban died on October 15, 1389, having pulled a “St. Paul” and fallen off his mule while journeying back to Rome from Narnia. No word on whether Aslan stopped to visit. His death was likely from the injuries, but some theories suggest he was poisoned.
What was he known for?
Urban VI is known (sadly) for being the fifth of the eight so-called “Bad Popes.” Though well-intentioned enough, what began as a campaign to rid the Church of its myriad abuses and reform it from top to bottom quickly devolved into a series of rash decisions, alienation of powerful papal allies, a clear indication that Urban slept through his papal etiquette class, and ultimately a new antipope and the Western Schism.
From the outset, Urban showed precisely zero tact in handling the people who had come to wish him well. Instead of just saying, “Thank you, come again,” he reportedly even rebuked bishops for leaving their dioceses, when they had simply come to pay him homage. Sheesh. Though the French cardinals surely would have proposed an antipope anyway, and though the evil which Urban sought to fight was at a fever pitch, Urban’s actions most definitely added fuel to the fire. With two rival claimants to the papal throne – one in Avignon and the other in Rome – all of Christendom was bitterly and confusingly divided for almost four decades.
From the outset, Urban showed precisely zero tact in handling the people who had come to wish him well. Instead of just saying, “Thank you, come again,” he reportedly even rebuked bishops for leaving their dioceses, when they had simply come to pay him homage. Sheesh. Though the French cardinals surely would have proposed an antipope anyway, and though the evil which Urban sought to fight was at a fever pitch, Urban’s actions most definitely added fuel to the fire. With two rival claimants to the papal throne – one in Avignon and the other in Rome – all of Christendom was bitterly and confusingly divided for almost four decades.
Fun Fact...
Despite his personal shortcomings, Pope Urban VI and his plans for Church reform had a supporter in St. Catherine of Siena. Prior to her death, Catherine had written to the pope after hearing of the French cardinals’ “election” of Antipope Clement VII. She wrote:
“I have learned that those devils in human form have made an election. They have not chosen a Vicar of Christ, but an Anti-Christ; never will I cease to acknowledge you, my dear Father, as the Representative of Christ upon earth. Now forward, Holy Father! Go without fear into this battle, go with the armor of divine love to cover you, for that is strong defense.”
What else was going on in the world at the time?
Around the year 1386, the famous Salisbury cathedral clock in England’s Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was built. It currently is one of the three oldest working clocks in the world.
Coming tomorrow....Pope Boniface IX