Definition

Noun: - A person who claims or is proclaimed to be the Pope in opposition to the Pope canonically elected and recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. This typically occurs during periods of schism or disputed papal elections.

Usage

The term is used specifically in a historical and ecclesiastical context to describe a rival claimant to the papacy. It is a formal title for such a figure. - The Council of Constance in 1417 ended the Western Schism by deposing the antipope and recognizing a single pope. - Historians study the period when multiple antipopes challenged the authority of the Roman pontiff.

Advanced Usage

• "to be an antipope": To hold the position of a rival pope.
  • He was declared an antipope by the majority of cardinals.
• "the reign of an antipope": The period during which an antipope claims authority.
  • The reign of the antipope was marked by political turmoil.

Variants and Related Words

• Antipapal (adj): Opposed to the Pope or the papacy.
  • The king was accused of antipapal sentiments for supporting the antipope.

Synonyms

• Rival pope: A direct synonym emphasizing the contested claim.
• Pretender to the papacy: Highlights the disputed or illegitimate nature of the claim.

Different Meanings

The word "antipope" has only one core meaning related to the specific historical/religious context of a rival papal claimant. It does not have general secular meanings.

Notes on Usage

• The term is inherently historical and is not used in contemporary contexts for the current, universally recognized Pope.
• It is always used with the definite article "the" when referring to a specific individual (e.g., ) or with an indefinite article when speaking generally (e.g., ).
• The concept is central to understanding periods of crisis in papal history, such as the Western Schism (1378-1417).

Noun

1. someone who is elected pope in opposition to another person who is held to be canonically elected
   • the antipopes resided in Avignon during the Great Schism