Pope Clement VI

Pope Clement VI, who reigned from 1342 to 1352, was the Avignon Pope during a turbulent period in the Catholic Church. He is best known for his compassionate response to the Black Death, issuing the declaration that provided solace to afflicted communities and promoting care for the sick. His papacy was marked by efforts to reconcile political tensions in Europe and strengthen church authority. Clement VI also established the practice of indulgences, which raised theological controversies. His leadership highlighted the complexities of church authority and its interaction with societal crises of the time.