Could the Great Schism of the 14th century be solved by a constitutional papacy?

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Jean Gerson, a towering intellectual and Chancellor of the University of Paris, believed the Catholic Church required a radical restructuring. By arguing that the Pope was merely a deputy to the collective faithful, he helped lead the conciliar movement to end a chaotic era of three competing, rival popes.

Born in 1363, Jean Gerson rose to prominence during the Great Schism, a crisis that began in 1378 when rival candidates disputed the papal throne. Initially moderate, Gerson eventually concluded that the church hierarchy required intervention. Alongside his mentor Pierre d’Ailly, he became a driving force at the Council of Constance, which successfully deposed competing claimants and united the church under Martin V in 1417.

Gerson’s political theory, articulated in his treatise De potestate ecclesiae, envisioned the papacy as a constitutional monarchy. He argued that Christ established the church as a community of the faithful, meaning a council could remove a pope without his consent if necessary. This perspective was not merely theoretical; it was a pragmatic response to the administrative paralysis caused by the presence of three simultaneous popes.

Beyond politics, Gerson was a dedicated mystic and educator. In De theologia mystica, he contrasted his approach with traditional scholasticism, which relied heavily on reason and academic study. Gerson believed that true evidence of God was found within the heart, arguing that love reached further than logic. He sought to reform university studies by stripping away idle speculation, favoring a spiritual, practical focus modeled on the teachings of St. Bonaventure.

Though he was a central figure in his time, some of his legacy remains shrouded in mystery. For instance, while some scholars have historically attributed the famous devotional work The Imitation of Christ to Gerson, no conclusive evidence has ever been found to confirm his authorship. His life, spanning from his humble beginnings as a peasant’s son to his exile in Germany and final years in Lyon, reflects the intense intellectual and religious turbulence of the late Middle Ages.

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