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An antipope is someone who makes a false claim to be the pope based on a process of election, installment or even self-appointment that is contrary to the Church's laws. Historians typically recognize as antipopes

PapacyWhat’s An Antipope? byFather Ray RylandAugust 26, 2022 Hippolytus Public domain An antipope is someone who makes a false claim to be the pope based on a process of election, installment or even self-appointment that is contrary to the Church’s laws. Historians typically recognize as antipopes only those false claimants with a significant following, such as large numbers of the faithful, powerful political backing or some portion of the College of Cardinals. Lists of antipopes compiled by scholars vary because questions have arisen in particular cases over how to harmonize historical criteria with those of theology and canon law. The Annuario Pontificio (Pontifical Yearbook), the annual directory of the Holy See, lists 37 antipopes, beginning with Hippolytus, whose false claim to St. Peter’s throne lasted from A.D. 217 to 235, and ending with Felix V (1439-1449). Antipopes in the early Church were typically promoted by rival ecclesiastical parties in Rome. In later centuries, they were more often puppets of secular rulers attempting to undermine or co-opt papal power. A few, however, had broad enough international support within the Church itself to become serious rivals to the popes they opposed. Anti-PopesPapacy byFather Ray Ryland Updated August 26, 2022 Read more Papacy What are the qualifications needed to be elected pope? byMichael R. HeinleinJune 12, 2023 Papacy Was There A Woman Pope? byMatthew BunsonApril 9, 2024 Papacy Pope St. Paul VI: Prophet for the modern world byRussell ShawApril 15, 2024 Papacy The Pontifical Swiss Guard byAnna Laura SmithSeptember 4, 2024 FIA Sponsored Content The truth about exorcists byTheresa Civantos BarberOctober 24, 2025 Church Seasons and Feasts FIA Mary 5 Prayer Intentions for the Assumption bySimply Catholic StaffAugust 4, 2025 Categories Categories Select Category Advent Angels Anti-Catholicism Bioethics Black Catholics Blessings Christian Unity Christmas Church Documents Church History Church Seasons and Feasts Church Teaching Creation Culture Death Devotion Easter Environment Eternal Life Eternity Evangelization Evil Faith Family Featured FIA Health Care Hispanics Holidays Human Dignity Jesus Joy Laity Lent Life Issues Liturgy Love Martyrs Mary Morality Papacy Pilgrimages Politics Prayer Prominent Figures Relationships Relics Religion Religious Life Sacramentals Sacraments Saints Salvation Satan Science Scripture Sexuality Sin Spirituality Sponsored Content Stewardship Struggles Suffering The Church Trinity Uncategorized Vatican Virtues Vocation War

What’s An Antipope? | Simply Catholic