Worthy Catholics: Pope Martin V

The pope who's election ended the disastrous Western Schism. His pontificate was a stable one which saw order returned to Italy and the end of the all-out war between those various Catholic countries who had supported different popes during the Western Schism and as such viewed the others as heretics.

His Holiness was a strong supporter of the Catholic cause during the Hussite Wars, and also issued several Papal Bulls reaffirming the privileges of the Jews in Bohemia, ensuring they would not be harassed or have their rights revoked due to renewed Catholic influence in the region. He also instituted harsh punishments for friars promoting antisemitism in their sermons. His bulls also ended the antisemitic measures placed upon the Jews living where Antipope Benedict XIII reigned supreme.

He established diplomatic contacts with the then Byzantine Emperor Manuel II and issued indulgences to any Catholic who undertook or took part in a crusade to alleviate the pressure by the Ottoman Turks on Byzantium.

A supporter of colonial expansion, he took strong measures to end the enslavement of Christians not just by weakening the power of the Ottoman slave-traders but by threatening any Catholic trafficking Christian slaves with excommunication.

Prince Henry the Navigator actually presented His Holiness with a gift of ten African slaves.

 Overall a good pontiff who did a lot of good for the Church in a time it needed a pious pope with a good head on his shoulders to pull everyone back together and return things to the status quo.

The Election of Pope Martin.