The previous pope (John Ratzinger?) retired instead of died.
His name was
Joseph Ratzinger, but if you call him Benedict XVI, people will probably have a better chance of knowing who you're talking about.
And yes, that was known as the Western Schism. Towards the end of it, there were briefly even
three popes, as I recall.
Dum inter homines sumus, colamus humanitatem. ("As long as we are among humans, let us be humane.") ~ Lucius Annaeus Seneca"The church must be where there is need, and homosexuals have suffered innumerable discriminations. If the church doesn't free people from oppression, what purpose does it serve?" ~ Dr. Jacques Gaillot, Titular Bishop of Parthenia“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?” ~ Mohandas K. Gandhi
