109 - The cardinals’ excuse for electing a [different] Pope, and a response to the two stronger reasons they gave for it

Summary

Whoever heard of such a division and schism was very shocked. Speaking of it, they inquired, not without reason, who amongst those Christians who had faith, however lowly he might be, would not be shocked by such a deed as this, when such educated and discreet men perverted their good judgement in such a way as to give rise to such error in the Church of God? They left the other cardinals, their brothers, and on their own whim made another election, creating another Pope beyond the first, claiming to be without guilt for two reasons with weak foundations. First, they said that it was to escape death that they elected this Don Bartolomeo, the Archbishop of Bari. Secondly, they thought that he was of such a condition and so devout that he would be thinking more about his death than about becoming Pope and would not accept such an election when he was notified of it.

Yet no man of sane counsel was content with these excuses, saying that if they were scared and had elected the Pope to escape death, as they said, they would have elected one in a hurry, a native of Rome or an Italian as was demanded of them, according to the will of the Romans. Instead, they elected him over a long period, not once but twice, investigating who would be the best person, the one most capable of handling the business of the Curia. They came to the conclusion that Don Bartolomeo was recognized as the one most likely to benefit the Church of God, when compared to any of the rest of them.

Moreover, it is strictly not a cause for fear except when the act is such that it cannot be avoided in any way; for example, if they had been seized by their capes forcibly and violently and through great fear were brought to the certainty that if they did not do what was required of them they could not escape death. This was very much the opposite, for the crowd never said nor sent to say a threatening or frightening word. Rather, they paid them due reverence when they went into conclave, saying that they believed it would profit the Church at that time to have a pope who was Roman or Italian.