Antipope Benedict XIV

:"This article concerns the two antipopes Benedict XIV, claimants to the Papacy during the 15th century. Another Pope Benedict XIV, canonically recognized as pope, reigned in the 18th century."

Benedict XIV was the name used by two closely related minor antipopes of the 15th century. The first, Bernard Garnier became antipope in 1424 and died ca. 1429. The second, Jean Carrier, became antipope ca. 1430 and apparently left office, whether by death or resignation, by 1437.

Neither of these men was supported by more than a very small faction within the Church. They claimed to be the successors to Benedict XIII, one of the parties to the great Papal Schism. In 1417, the Council of Constance resolved the Schism, proclaiming Martin V the new Pope and demanding that Benedict XIII renounce his claim. Benedict XIII, however, remained at a castle in Peñíscola (kingdom of Valencia) and continued to maintain supporters. He died in 1423, but, the day before his death, he created four cardinals loyal to him, in order to ensure his succession. Three of these cardinals met and elected Antipope Clement VIII. However, one of Benedict XIII's cardinals, Jean Carrier, disputed the validity of this election. Carrier, acting as the College of Cardinals by himself, elected Bernard Garnier, who took the name Pope Benedict XIV, instead. Carrier was the archdeacon of Rodez, near Toulouse, and Garnier had been the sacristan of Rodez.

Garnier conducted his office secretly and was known as the "hidden pope": a letter from the Count of Armagnac to Joan of Arc indicates that only Carrier knew Benedict XIV's location. Garnier's reign as Benedict XIV ended at his death in 1429 or 1430, although he named four of his own cardinals, one of whom was named Jean Farald. Garnier's cardinals chose Jean Carrier as their new pope. Carrier, however, had been captured and imprisoned by Antipope Clement VIII. Carrier reigned in captivity and also styled himself Pope Benedict XIV.

Some imagine that cardinals loyal to him elected a series of increasingly marginal antipopes in 1437 and 1470 [For instance, in the novel by French writer Jean Raspail, "L'Anneau du pêcheur", Paris : Albin Michel, 1994. 403 p. ISBN 2-226-07590-9] . These popes never existed.

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