Lorraine Williamson
What began as a medieval story of papal ambition has become a 21st-century courtroom drama. Two neighbouring villages in Aragón — Illueca and Sabiñán — are locked in a fierce battle over a single relic: the skull of Pedro de Luna, remembered in history as Pope Benedict XIII, or more controversially, the “antipope”.
From Aragón lawyer to papal throne
Pedro de Luna, born in Illueca in 1328, rose from lawyer to cardinal before being elected pope in Avignon in 1394. His appointment came during the Western Schism, a turbulent era when multiple men claimed to be the true head of the Catholic Church. Though deposed and later excommunicated, he stubbornly clung to the papal title until his death in 1423. His defiance lives on in the Spanish idiom mantenerse en sus trece — refusing to back down, just as Benedict XIII did.
The relic’s turbulent journey
De Luna’s remains were first buried in his birthplace of Illueca. But history was not kind. In the early 18th century, French troops desecrated his tomb, taking all but his skull. The surviving relic eventually found its way to Sabiñán, where it was guarded for centuries.
Drama struck again in 2000 when two local youths stole the skull, attempting to sell it back to Illueca’s mayor. Police intervened, and after authentication, the skull returned to Sabiñán. Since 2021, it has been displayed there as part of Aragón’s official cultural heritage.
Illueca refuses to concede
Despite a 2023 court ruling confirming Sabiñán as the legal custodian, Illueca continues to contest ownership. Its case rests not on property rights but on heritage and family wishes. Descendants of Pedro de Luna argue his skull should return to Illueca, where he was first laid to rest. A fresh trial is set for September, keeping tensions high between the two villages.
More than just bone and history
At stake is not only a skull but also the question of identity, pride, and memory. For Illueca, it is about reclaiming a son of the village. For Sabiñán, it is about protecting a relic that has been theirs for centuries.
Six hundred years after his death, Pedro de Luna remains as divisive as he was in life. The man who refused to abandon his papal claim now continues to sow discord — this time, not within the Catholic Church, but between two small Aragón villages unwilling to let go of their piece of history.
Source: Xataka