The Avignon Papacy

The Avignon Papacy refers to a period from 1309 to 1377 when seven successive popes resided in Avignon, France, instead of Rome. This shift was largely due to political conflicts in Italy and the influence of the French king. The situation led to significant tensions between the papacy and Rome, prompting criticisms of the popes’ authority and legitimacy. The period ended when Pope Gregory XI returned the papacy to Rome, but it set the stage for further conflicts, including the Great Western Schism, where multiple claimants to the papacy arose, complicating church leadership and credibility.