Michael of Cesena

Like the Protestant Martin Luther during the Reformation, the Spirituals during Pope John's rule rejected his argument on property ownership and called the Pope corrupt.

Two Franciscans worthy of note are the theologians Michael of Cesena and William of Ockham, who both openly accused the Pope of corruption and deviation from the gospel.

They went as far to accuse the Pope of being the Antichrist and referred to him as the Whore of Babylon, and it is argued that Marsilius was greatly influenced by the Spirituals, which is one powerful reason he wrote The Defender of the Peace.

There are comparisons to be made today when dissenting voices have been openly critical of rulers, and one clear example is the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.