f France.A reaction to the decline of morals among church leaders, many people began to question the Universal Church. Lead by such people as John Wycliffe and Jan Hus, the reform movement began. Reformers believed that the middleman should be removed-the popes, bishops, cardinals-and that people could have direct contact with God. There would be no dependence on corrupt Church leaders to save you; your salvation was based on faith alone.After many arguments and pleas from the people, the papacy is moved back to Rome, only to enter the period of The Great Schism. Pope Urban VI comes into power and loses favor of some other leaders. Everyone in the papacy is so used to self-indulgence, they decide they have the right to elect another pope if they so choose. Pope Clement VII is elected. Thus begins the schism; Clement VII is taken to Avignon to continue "immoral-moral" practices while Urban VI remains in Rome, causing two popes from which to choose allegiance and two centers of the Church.Religion was a large part of Europeans' lives during this period, other countries could not sit back and watch the church be controlled by only two countries. Diplomatic allegiance choices were made according to long standing rivalries. England supports Italy and Urban VI because of their shaky relations with France, while the Scots back France because of their relations with England. The schism gives rivaling countries yet another reason to separate themselves from one another; it feeds the already existing fire.It has come to the realization of the leaders of the Church that this matter must be resolved. The Conciliar Movement begins in order to create a church council to regulate power of the papacy, end the abuses, and end the schism. The Council of Pisa began the remedying process by deciding a council will share the power and decision making with the papacy. A new pope was elected at this meeting, yet all people still do not recognize ...
