Pope GREGORY XI

Also known as

Pierre Roger de Beaufort

Profile

Nephew of Pope Clement VI. Cardinal-deacon in 1348 while still a teenager. Studied at the University of Perugia, Italy. One of the Avignon popes, he was elected in December 1370, ordained as priest on 4 January 1371, and crowned the next day.

He tried to bring the kings of France and England to peace, but failed. Made peace between Castile, Aragon, Navarre, Sicily, and Naples. Worked to re-unite the Greek and Latin Churches. Fought heresies, worked for monastic reform, and encouraged a new Crusade. Condemned the propositions of John Wyclif and the Sachenspiegel in 1373. Approved the Order of the Spanish Hermits of Saint Jerome in 1374.

Beginning in 1371 he became involved in conflict with Duke Bernabo Visconti of Milan, an enemy of the papacy. Gregory was forced to declare war on Visconti in 1372 which lasted until a truce on 6 June 1374. However, Gregory's use of French legates in a dispute within Italy led to popular discontent. The Pope excommunicated the inhabitants of Florence for rising against him. The Florentines sent Saint Catherine of Siena to intercede for them. Moved by the stength and insistence of her messages, he yielded, removed the excommunication, and moved the papal see back to Rome on 27 January 1377. However, popular uprisings against his use of temporal power continued, and he was on the verge of returning to France when he died.

Born

1331 at the castle of Maumont, diocese of Limoges, France

Papal Ascension

elected 30 December 1370 at Avignon, France; crowned on 5 January 1371

Died

27 March 1378 at Rome, Italy of natural causes

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