*originally broadcast September 2023*
Once upon a time, the Catholic Church had rival sitting popes. For a long time, in fact. The “Great Western Schism” lasted from 1378 to 1417: 39 years. An entire generation of believers lived under opposing ecclesiastical leadership. To this very day – 600 years later – there is no official pronouncement as to which was the true pope. What was the effect that this generational schism had on the church? On today’s show called “The Extra Pope,” Something’s Happening Here looks to the past to learn not just the immediate effects of what happens when a society has two rival leaders at the same time, but the long-term effects as well. We hope to see a pattern that, when applied to our day today, easily bridges the gap between our day and Revelation 13.