GREGORY XII

born c. 1325, Venice died Oct. 18, 1417, Recanati, Papal States original name Angelo Correr pope from 1406 to 1415. He was the last of the Roman line during the Western Schism (1378-1417), when the papacy was contested by antipopes in Avignon and in Pisa. He was bishop of Castello in the Papal States (1380) when made a cardinal (1405) by Pope Innocent VII, whom he succeeded on Nov. 30, 1406. His pontificate was challenged by the Avignonese antipope Benedict XIII, with whom he was to have negotiated for their mutual abdication to end the Schism. After the French declared neutrality (1408) in the dispute between Rome and Avignon, the Council of Pisa pronounced both the Roman and Avignonese popes deposed (June 1409). Gregory protested but resigned on July 4, 1415. He first, however, approved the Council of Constance (Germany), which denounced Benedict as a heretic and elected Pope Martin V. Gregory died as cardinal bishop of Porto, a title conferred on him by the council.