Pope Urban VI (; c. 1318 – October 15, 1389), born Bartolomeo Prignano, was an Italian priest of the Roman Catholic Church and the 203rd Pope from 1378 to 1389.
Early life
Prignano was born in Naples.
Bishop
In 1364, Prignano was made the Archbishop of Acerenza by Pope Urban V.
Pope Gregory XI made Prignano Archbishop of Bari in 1377.
Cardinal
He was not a cardinal. There were several Popes who were not Cardinals. One of these was Pope Urban V.
Pope
Prignano was elected pope on April 8, 1378; and he chose to be called Pope Urban VI.
Western schism
A period called the "Western Schism" began on 20 September 20, 1378 when Robert of Geneva (also known as Clement VII) was chosen pope by 13 French cardinals. Clement VII is now considered to have been an antipope.
A large part of Germany, Flanders, Italy (with exception of Naples), England and Ireland recognized Urban VI as the pope; but many in Western Europe supported the papacy of Clement VII.