Conflict and consent in the sermon of Marcus Bonifili on the election of antipope Felix V (Basel, 30 October 1439)

Within the council of Basel’s official records documenting the proceedings of the conclave of 1439, an annotation highlights the Catalan theologian Marcus Bonifili’s sermon, delivered six days before the election of the antipope Felix V. He advocated for the selection of a pontiff, contrasting Gabriel Condulmaro, emphasizing the imperative need for a leader antithetical to Eugene IV. The sermon, characterized by its potent rhetorical and argumentative force, employed numerous oppositions. The preacher polemicizes against the arguments of the papists, affirms the correctness of the electors’ course, and expresses hope that the conflict will end with the achievement of agreement and unity in the Church. This analysis aims to dissect the rhetorical strategies evident in Bonifili’s sermon, emphasizing the adept use of antitheses, the vilification of Eugene IV, and the rational underpinnings substantiating the election of the new pontiff. Special attention is paid to the portrayal of Eugene IV as unworthy of the papal office and to the presentation of the proposal for a new pontifex. The model of the pope, derived from the pastor angelicus (‘a holy pope’) tradition, also had a practical dimension, connected with the discussion on power in the Church.