Cardinal Humbert of Silva Candida

Cardinal Humbert of Silva Candida was a prominent 11th-century Italian churchman who played a crucial role in the events leading to the Great Schism of 1054, which divided Christianity into the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. As a papal legate, he traveled to Constantinople to address disputes between the Latin and Greek churches. His actions and aggressive stance towards the Eastern Church, including the excommunication of the Patriarch of Constantinople, contributed to the permanent split. Humbert is often remembered for his significant influence on church politics during a pivotal moment in Christian history.