"The existence of the Catholic popes before so-called Avignon papacy (captivity) was completely invented."
U. Topper believes, that the Papacy arose "... in Avignon and at the end of the XIV century moved to in Rome in Italy."
Avignon period in the history of the papacy had very few resemblance with the real captivity, rather it was a collaboration among Popes and "the powers that be".
Apparently, all leaders of the church (the Popes) were gathered together in order to unite them under single power[26].
Unlimited power in the church was given to Popes. Wikipedia:
"Western Schism (1378-1417) started just a year after the end of Avignon papacy, when competing popes resided in Avignon and in Rome and divided the whole Catholic world among themselves (may be not Catholic world, but religious, because the Catholicism didn`t exist yet - author) ".
Apparently, not everyone agreed with the decisions taken in Avignon. Because at that time, there were other beliefs at the territory of present-day Europe.
The Council of Constance
The Council of Constance (1414-1418) began during the Western Schism in order to unite theRoman Catholic Church[27]and to stop the Schism, which had already led to three-papacy existing.
The Council of Constance restored the unity of the Catholic Church.
Martin V became the new Pope in the result of the election.
Two documents were adopted at the council, which stated:
• The Council has the highest authority given to it by Christ, and everybody, including the Pope, must obey this power;
• Council will meet regularly, after a certain number of years.
Both of these documents expressed the thesis of cathedral power supremacy over the papacy, and therefore these documents were not confirmed by the Pope. It is believed, that the Council stopped Schism, but didn`t manage to carry out the church reform.
At the same time the Council decided to punish the heretic Jan Hus. He was burned together with his works. The execution of Hus caused Hussite Wars (1419-1434).
It can be said, that roman catholic churches were united into a single organization at the Council of Constance 1414-1418.
Although the Council didn`t decide all tasks, in particular, the Pope didn`t receive absolute power, but this united church organization showed, what would happen with those, who doesn`t obey its decisions.
This sin against God was the beginning of united latin church work, named later “catholic”, perhaps after the word“kat”: in Czech language“kat”means “executioner,hangman, slaughterer” (Vasmer Dictionary).
Not the whole truth is known about Jan Hus, especially about faith, he defended.
But some provisions preached by him are known:
• Do not blindly obey the church, but you should to think yourselves.
• The power, which violates the commandments of God, can not be recognized by Him.
•Each person is directly related to God without any intermediaries, therefore, the Church is not needed as an intermediary between man and God.
• Confession is violence against conscience, and therefore the internal human repentance in front of face of God is enough.
• It is necessary to translate the Bible from the traditional Latin language into the national languages.
So what Christianity was preached by Jan Hus?
Indirectly the following fact tells us about it. A squadof Orthodoxes patrialsof the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, who fought against sticking the catholic faith in their country, came to help the Hussites, who defended against the crusaders of the pope. Eight years they fought against the Polish, German and Hungarian troops with the Taborites»[28].”
Apparently, the orthodoxes helped the orthodoxes against the latins.
It should be noted, that at present time the Czech Republic is the most atheistic state in Europe.
The Council of Florence.
Council of Florence took place in 1438-1445.
After the war against the Czechs, it was decided to try to impose the Latin version of Christianity by political means. The official purpose of the Florence Council was to overcome the dogmatic differences among the Western and Eastern churches and to complete the union (among them).
Representatives of all Christian churches were brought together - about 700 people. Metropolitan of Kiev Isidore participated in it. An entrance into an alliance with the Latin Church with the Papal primacy was offered to them in the form of an ultimatum. At the same time, they demanded to adopt new Christian dogma of the Latin Church: the primacy of the Pope in the Universal (Catholic) Church, the filioque[29](addition to the Creed) and the doctrine of purgatory.
July 5, 1439 the Florentine union was signed.
The union wasin recognition of the Roman Church innovations, but with the provison, that the Eastern Church will not put Latin liturgical and religious rites into practice.
Representatives of Orthodox Churches signed the documents against their will. During the Cathedral most of the representatives of the Byzantine delegation hadn`t been receiving money for food for 5 months, although it had been promised as a condition of the delegation's presence at the council still in Constantinople.
Metropolitan Mark of Ephesus was among non-signatory the union. Mark of Ephesus did not make any concessions to the Latin doctrine,calling Latins heretics.
Why did Mark of Ephesus call Latins “heretics”?
He said, that the Latins had changed the Gospel, when attributed to Christ words, he hadn`t said:"Why ... is other Gospel preached![30]".
However, the union was fragile and in fact did not last long. Within a few years, many Bishops and Metropolitans, presented at the Council, became to deny openly their consent to the Council or to claim, that the decision of the Council were adopted under threats and bribery from the Latin clergy.
Thus, an amicable agreement was not possible, but that the Latins were not satisfied with it: and already in 1453, the Ottomans took Constantinople with the help of the Latins and Jews.
How did Russian authorities react to the Council of Florence decisions?
Metropolitan of Kiev Isidore signed a union with the Roman Catholic Church, but the Grand Prince of Moscow Vasily Ivanovich (Basil III, 1479-1533) sent Isodore to prison on the third day after the arrival, deprived him of dignity andbroke the union with the Roman Church.
The Council of Trent
The Council of Trentwas held between 1545 and 1563 (it lasted 18 years).
It is one of the most important cathedrals in the history of the Catholic Church.
It solved tasks for 300 years ahead. Next The Vatican Council took place only in 1869, and it was interrupted.
"Most likely, Catholicism did not exist as a single organized structure until the Council of Trent."[31].
Decisions of the Council of Trent
• Trent fixed the popes supremacy. In fact, Roman Catholicism was created as a monolithic multinational supranational monarchical organization with a single control center - the Pope, whose judgments on matters of faith and morals have infallibility.