Avignon Papacy

The Palace of the Popes (Palais des Papes) in Avignon

The Avignon Papacy refers to the 70 years when the popes lived in Avignon instead of living in Rome.^[1] Philip IV of France had forced a papal conclave to elect a French pope, who decided he did not want to live in Rome.

History

This period started in 1309 and ended in 1376 when Pope Gregory XI returned to the pope's residence in Rome.

There was an attempt to return the papacy to Avignon, but it was not successful.^[2]

List of Avignon popes

The Bishops of Rome who lived in Avignon were:

Pope Clement V: 1305–1314^[3]
Pope John XXII: 1316–1334^[4]
Pope Benedict XII: 1334–1342^[5]
Pope Clement VI: 1342–1352^[6]
Pope Innocent VI: 1352–1362^[7]
Pope Urban V: 1362–1370^[8]
Pope Gregory XI: 1370–1378^[9]

Two antipopes were based in Avignon as well:

Clement VII: 1378–1394^[10]
Benedict XIII: 1394–1423 (expelled from Avignon in 1403)^[11]

Avignon Papacy Media

The Papal palace in Avignon, France
A map of Rome, showing an allegorical figure of Rome as a widow in black mourning the Avignon Papacy
Clement V in a later engraving
John
BenediktXII
Clemens_VI