Even after his pontificate, Pope Eugene IV continued his monastic life as an example of piety.
Christopher Francis – Vatican
Pope Eugene IV, born in Venice, Italy in 1388, was elected Pope after Martin V. Not only did he come from a wealthy family, but he was also the nephew of Pope Gregory XII. This father of three was tall, thin and very handsome. Although he was born into a very rich family, Pope Eugene 4th joined the Agustinar monastery at an early age, giving away a large part of his property to the poor.
At the age of 24, he was appointed Bishop of Siena, Italy. But the people there did not accept the appointment of a bishop from the Venetian territory outside their territory. So he immediately resigned his episcopate, bearing the will of the people, Gabriello Condulmaro. He was also elevated to the post of Cardinal in a short period of time. After the death of Pope Martin V, the cardinals elected him as Pope on March 4, 1431 and crowned him as Patriarch on March 11. Even after he became Pope, he continued his monastic life and became an example of piety. However, he did not like the fact that only some families were looked after personally and discriminated against. In particular he objected to the previous Pope’s Colonna family retaining power within the papacy. The problem was brought to an amicable end with the help of the rulers of Florence, Venice and Naples. But he had to face another problem.
In 1431 Pope Eugene IV convened the Council of Basle, coming to office at a time when he was facing various oppositions and facing many oppositions himself. However, Pope Eugene 4th said that since many bishops did not come and the situation in the General Assembly was not good, the General Assembly was dissolved within five months of its commencement and it will be reconvened in Bologna, Italy after 18 months. Pope Eugene IV took this decision in good faith that the general assembly should not go down the wrong path. But the assembled bishops, refusing to obey the Pope’s orders, issued a separate circular to the public that they would continue the discussions. They also had the support of governments. This is where the big problem looms.
It was emphasized by the assembled bishops that the General Assembly had more authority than the Pope. Not only that, they also issued a warning that Pope Eugene IV and his supporting cardinals must appear before the General Synod within three months or face punishment. Pope Eugene IV announced the retraction of his decree dissolving the Council of Basle. But the year after this announcement, in May 1434, a revolution against the Pope took place in Rome. The Pope, who had left Urom in the garb of a monk, was pelted with stones. From there, Pope Eugene IV fled across the Tiber River to Ostia, a coastal town in the city of Urom. Then the Pope went there with the help of the people of Florence and stayed in the Dominican monastery called Santa Maria Novella. The bishop of Recanati sent Vitelleschi to bring order to the places belonging to the diocese. Meanwhile the Council of Basle was totally opposed to the Pope’s actions. But both sides were in agreement on the union of the Greek Church with the Presbytery. However, there was a difference of opinion on where to hold it. The Pope announced the city of Ferrara, Italy, to publish the Basle General Council’s wish to be held in France. The bishops gathered in Basle announced that they were going to depose the Pope. But in the meantime the two principal cardinals, Cesarini and Cusa, left the Council of Basle, and Cardinal Albergati presided over it, and Pope Eugene attended the Council of Ferrara, which began on January 8, 1438. This dialogue meeting with Greek priests lasted for a year. Finally, on July 5, 1439, a declaration was signed between the two parties, and some unification was achieved. This was followed by union with the Armenians in November 1439, with the Jacobites in 1443, and with the Nestorians in 1445. Despite such victories, the bishops assembled at Basle declared the depose of the pope and elected an antipope. He also took the name Felix the Fifth. Meanwhile, Pope Eugene IV returned to Urom on 28 September 1443. He returned victorious among the people who drove him out. Because it was due to his efforts that the divisions of Thirua were removed and unity was born. Not only that, there has been no such term as Anti-Pope in the Church since the Anti-Pope Felix V during the reign of Eugene IV, the 207th Pope of the Church.
Pope Eugene IV, who faithfully followed the teachings of the Church, brought many reforms into the Church, and was of special service to the restoration of the city of Rome, was enthroned on February 23, 1447.