By History And Culture Media

5/5/2024

The Avignon Papacy (1309–1377): Why the Popes Left Rome and How It Shaped the Church

What Was the Avignon Papacy?

The Avignon Papacy was a period from 1309 to 1377 when seven successive popes resided in Avignon, France, instead of Rome. Also known as the Babylonian Captivity of the Church, this era marked a time of growing French influence, deepening papal corruption, and weakened spiritual authority that set the stage for the Western Schism and future church reforms.

Historical Background: Why Did the Popes Move to Avignon?

1. Conflict in Rome

Political instability and violence in Rome made it unsafe for the papal court. The city was plagued by power struggles between aristocratic families and lacked central authority.

2. Tensions with the French Monarchy

Following the bitter conflict between Pope Boniface VIII and King Philip IV of France, papal authority was significantly weakened. After Boniface's death and the short papacy of Benedict XI, Philip exerted influence over the conclave, resulting in the election of a French pope.

3. Election of Pope Clement V (1305)

Clement V, a Frenchman, chose not to move to Rome. Instead, he settled the papal court in Avignon, a city just outside French territory but under strong French influence.

Popes of the Avignon Papacy

Seven popes ruled from Avignon:

1. Clement V (1305–1314)
   
   

2. John XXII (1316–1334)
   
   

3. Benedict XII (1334–1342)
   
   

4. Clement VI (1342–1352)
   
   

5. Innocent VI (1352–1362)
   
   

6. Urban V (1362–1370)
   
   

7. Gregory XI (1370–1378) – Returned the papacy to Rome in 1377
   
   

Key Features of the Avignon Papacy

1. Increased French Influence

The papacy became closely aligned with French interests, undermining its claim to universal authority and alienating other Catholic kingdoms like England and the Holy Roman Empire.

2. Growth of Bureaucracy and Wealth

The Avignon popes expanded the papal administration, increased taxation, and centralized church finances. This helped fund art and architecture but also bred accusations of greed and corruption.

3. Luxurious Papal Court

The lavish lifestyle of the Avignon papacy—compared to the humble origins of early Christianity—damaged the Church’s reputation among common believers and reformers.

4. Church Expansion and Crusades

Despite internal challenges, the Avignon papacy supported missionary activity, church building, and campaigns against heresy, including calls for crusades.

Return to Rome and the Western Schism

In 1377, under pressure from Saint Catherine of Siena and rising anti-papal sentiment in Italy, Pope Gregory XI returned the papacy to Rome. However, his death in 1378 sparked a disputed papal election, leading to the Western Schism (1378–1417), during which multiple claimants to the papal throne vied for legitimacy in Rome, Avignon, and later Pisa.

Impact of the Avignon Papacy

1. Loss of Papal Prestige

The move to Avignon made the pope appear to be a French puppet, weakening the Church’s claim to be above national politics.

2. Rise of Church Criticism

Corruption and absenteeism during this period fueled early calls for reform—eventually contributing to movements like Conciliarism, the Hussite Rebellion, and the Protestant Reformation.

3. Administrative Reforms

The Avignon papacy developed a more organized bureaucratic structure, including improved record-keeping and financial systems, which influenced later Church governance.

4. Division and the Western Schism

The legacy of French papal loyalty created a rift within Christendom that lasted until the Council of Constance resolved the schism in 1417.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What was the Avignon Papacy?
A: A period from 1309 to 1377 when seven popes ruled from Avignon, France, rather than Rome.

Q: Why did the popes move to Avignon?
A: Due to political instability in Rome and growing French influence over the papacy.

Q: Who returned the papacy to Rome?
A: Pope Gregory XI in 1377, shortly before his death.

Q: What was the Babylonian Captivity of the Church?
A: A critical term for the Avignon Papacy, likening it to the Israelites' exile in Babylon, coined by critics like Petrarch.

Q: How did the Avignon Papacy lead to the Western Schism?
A: Disputes over papal succession after Gregory XI’s death led to the election of rival popes in Rome and Avignon, dividing the Catholic Church.

Conclusion

The Avignon Papacy (1309–1377) was a defining episode in medieval Church history that exposed the dangers of politicized religion and centralized corruption. While it brought certain administrative reforms, its legacy is largely one of controversy, weakened authority, and a deepening crisis of confidence in the papacy. This period set the stage for the Western Schism, growing calls for reform, and ultimately the transformation of the Church in the Renaissance and Reformation eras.

Sources

• Avignon Papacy, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avignon_Papacy, 5/5/2024