Avignon Papacy

Pope Clement V

Jun 5, 1305

He was Pope from 5 June 1305 to his death in 1314. He is remembered for suppressing the order of the Knights Templar and allowing the execution of many of its members. He also moved the Curia from Rome to Avignon.

Curia moved to Avignon

Mar 9, 1309

The Curia was moved from Rome to Avignon by Pope Clement V in the year 1309.

Pope Benedict XII

Dec 20, 1334

Pope Benedict XII, born Jacques Fourier, was Pope from 20 December 1334 to his death in April 1342. He was the third Avignon Pope. He was known for his intelligence and organizational ability.

Pope Urban V

Sep 28, 1362

He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict. He was the sixth Avignon Pope, and the only Avignon pope to be beatified. Even after his election as pontiff, he continued to follow the Benedictine Rule, living simply and modestly.

Avignon returning to Rome

Sep 13, 1376

Pope Gregory XI returned to Rome in 1376 and ended the Avignon Papacy. The most influential decision in the reign of Pope Gregory XI (1370–1378) was the return to Rome, beginning on 13 September 1376 and ending with his arrival on 17 January 1377.

The end of the Avignon Papacy

Jan 17, 1377

A total of seven popes reigned at Avignon; all were French, and they increasingly fell under the influence of the French Crown. Finally, on September 13, 1376, Gregory XI abandoned Avignon and moved his court to Rome, officially ending the Avignon Papacy on January 17, 1377.

Benedict XIII

Jan 1, 1403

expelled from Avignon in 1403, he was an Aragonese nobleman, was an Avignon Pope during the Western Schism. He is officially considered by the Catholic Church to be an antipope. An antipope is defined as is a person who, in opposition to the one who is generally seen as the legitimately elected Pope, makes a significantly accepted competing claim to be the Pope.