The difficulty of deciding which was the true successor of Peter was so great that not only were the kingdoms of Europe divided in their allegiance, but doctors of the church and canonized saints could be found among the supporters of either line.

There can be no doubt that respect for the pontificate greatly suffered by the schism, which was in some respects a direct preparation for the greater division brought about by the Protestant secession.
[Sidenote: Councils--Pisa, 1409, Constance, 1414-18] The attempt to end the schism at the Council of Pisa resulted only in the election of a third pope.

The situation was finally dealt with by the Council of Constance which deposed two of the popes and secured the voluntary abdication of the third.

The synod further strengthened the church by executing the heretics Huss and Jerome of Prague, and by passing decrees intended to put the government of the church in the hands of representative assemblies.

It asserted that it {15} had power directly from Christ, that it was supreme in matters of faith, and in matters of discipline so far as they affected the schism, and that the pope could not dissolve it without its own consent.