The Avignon Papacy, the Exile of the Vatican

Since the beginning of the Church, Peter, appointed by Christ as the head of the Church, resided in Rome. For nearly 1300 years, Rome was the home of the Pope. The Avignon Papacy, sometimes referred to the “Babylonian Captivity” was a controversial period within the Church. During this time, from 1309-1377, the Popes of the Vatican resided in Avignon, France. This re-settling of the Pope in France, rather than their traditional roots in Rome, caused speculation over the authority and motives of the head of the universal church.  

Clement V, a Frenchman, was elected into the papacy after the death of Pope Benedict XI. At the time of his election as pontiff, Rome, and the entirety of Europe, was under political struggles alongside the spreading of diseases and plagues. There was an outbreak of war, between England and France, which caused great economic strife in Europe[1]. King Philip of France wanted to make his monarchy universal. Pope Clement V was highly influenced by King Philip and decided to reside the papacy in France. John Vidmar speaks of Clement V as a “rather weak pope, being dominated by the French king.”[2] For sixty-eight years, nine popes resided in France and guided the Church from this new, non-traditional, seat.[3]. After consideration to move the papacy back to its traditional home, Clement V recognized the controversy and indifference which Rome had grown for the Avignon papacy. Pope Clement noticed “anti-papal rising in Rome, and the growing need for French support and security.”[4] This reign from France caused the universal church to question the pope’s worldwide church interest. The world was concerned that the reign from France, would cause the papacy to lose interest in anything outside of his initial domain: France. The Church seemed split, between the allegiance to Avignon, and those who longed for its return to Rome. This only aided in the anti-papal movement, which caused un-easiness in Clement V. Remaining in France gave Clement security, being surrounded by his home country. The influence which King Philip held over Clement also did not aide in the papacy’s return home.

This photo depicts the nine popes who resided in Avignon, France. 

Sixty-eight years later, the papacy returned to its initial home, Rome. With the papacy being outside of its home diocese, the Avignon papacy was not capable of receiving the military and financial support which it had had in Rome.[5] Saint Catherine of Siena was a Dominican sister, who heard the voice of God requesting her assistance in reforming the Church, leading it back to Rome.[6] In the spring of 1376, Catherine acted upon God’s wishes and traveled to southern France, seeking out Pope Gregory XI. She requested the reformation of the church and the beginning of a crusade. She stated that the Church needed to be returned to Rome, in order to complete the task which had been requested by God.[7] Through the prayer, determination and devotion from St. Catherine of Siena, the return of the Roman bishop had succeeded. She initiated the reform of the Church, aiding spiritual guidance to Pope Gregory XI, as he returned the papacy to Rome after the nearly seventy years of exile.

Painting of Saint Catherine of Siena, during her prophesy on the papacy's return to Rome.

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[1] T, Morrissey, “Review of The Avignon Papacy and the Crusades. 1305-1378,” Theological Studies (Spring 1987),  590.

[2] John Vidmar, The Catholic Church Through the Ages (Mahwah: Paulist Press, 2005), 154.

[3] Goyau, G., & Mollat, G. “Avignon”. Retrieved March 6, 2015 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org

[4] Vidmar, The Catholic Church Through the Ages, 155.

[5] Vidmar, The Catholic Church Through the Ages, 155.

[6] Alan Schreck, The Compact History of the Catholic Church (Cincinnati: Servant Books, 2009), 64.

[7] Karen Scott, “Saint Catherine of Siena, ‘apostola’,” Church History, (March, 1992).

Image of the Avignon Portraits: "The Avignon Papacy in Portrait Form", photography, 28 March, 2011. http://allerailleurs.blogspot.com/2011/03/cool-places-5-avignon.html
Image of Saint Catherine: Saint Catherine of Siena-Mystic and Doctor of the Church, painting,  http://www.discerninghearts.com/?page_id=2680.