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Crisis in the Late Medieval Church
The Council of Constance
The Council met from 1414 to 1418 and accomplished a great deal. The first order of business was the Schism, which it accomplished by deposing all three popes. There were even more prelates at Constance than at Pisa, and, more importantly, many of the cardinals were working actively for a resolution. The three rival popes found themselves with few supporters.
Pope John went to Constance thinking to cow the attendees. Their temper was so stern, however, that he actually left town in disguise, fearing arrest. He accepted and ratified his own deposition. Gregory went through the fiction of summoning the council, even though it had had already met, then voluntarily abdicating. Benedict, though, refused to recognize the Council or his deposition. He retired to a castle in Spain where he held out until his death in 1423, excommunicating just about everyone.
The Council elected a new pope, Martin V (1417-1431), who proved to be a good and effective pope. His election ended the Schism, though a few pathetic remainders lasted until as late as 1429. Pope Martin returned to Rome and rebuilt papal power there and began rebuilding the city itself.