antipope
/ˈantɪpəʊp
/noun
A person established as pope in opposition to one held by others to be canonically chosen.The Second was called in 1139 to clarify doctrine and to heal the schism which had been caused by the activities of the antipope Anacletus II....
- Except as regards Peter's length of tenure this essay upholds convention in the roster of popes, and with the further exception of Philip, names of antipopes play no role in what follows.
- These ‘imposters’ are referred to as antipopes and are considered to be agents of the devil.
Origin
Late Middle English antipape, via French from medieval Latin antipapa (on the pattern of Antichrist). The change in the ending in the 17th century was due to association with pope1.