The Western Church Schism, also known as the Great Schism of 1378-1417, was a period of division within the Roman Catholic Church. It began when two rival popes were elected: Urban VI in Rome and Clement VII in Avignon. This led to a split in allegiance among European nations and church leaders, each supporting one of the popes. The schism created significant confusion and weakened the authority of the papacy. It was eventually resolved at the Council of Constance (1414-1418), which ended the division by electing Martin V as the sole pope, restoring unity to the church.