Pope Boniface IX

Pope Boniface IX (; 1350 – 1 October 1404), born Piero Tomacelli, was an Italian cleric of the Roman Catholic Church and the 204th Pope from 1389 until his death in 1404. "List of Popes,"  Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2011-11-29.

Early life
Piero Tomacelli was born into the baronial family of Casarano in the Kingdom of Naples."Pope Boniface IX", Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-29.

Cardinal
In 1381, Pope Urban VI raised Tomacelli to the rank of cardinal.

 Pope
Cardinal Tomacelli was elected pope in 1389; and he chose to be called Boniface IX.Note on ordinal numbering: Popes Boniface VIII–IX are really the 7th and 8th popes with that name.  This is because Boniface VII is now parsed as an antipope; but during the reign of Boniface VIII, this was not recognized. The "true" or actual eighth pope Boniface identified himself with the ordinal number IX.  In other words, the numbering of popes after the 7th Boniface needs to be explained -- compare Popes Benedict XI–XVI.

Pope Boniface was involved in Italian and European political disputes.

Papal actions
 1391 – University of Ferrara establishedMotor, p. 87.
 1392 – University of Efurt confirmed
 1396 – Jubilee celebrated at Rome
 1398 – University of Fermo established

Boniface canonized St. Birgitta of Sweden.

Western Schism
Boniface IX was pope during the years of the Western Schism, which was a split between factions of the Roman Catholic Church between 1378 and 1417. "Western Schism," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-29.

During this period, there was more than one who claimed to be the true pope.

Related pages 
 List of popes

References

Other websites


  Catholic Hierarchy, Pope Boniface IX
  Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church ,  Cardinal Tomacelli 

Category:Italian popes
Category:1350 births
Category:1404 deaths