Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-11-07

Papal Throne I'm the Cathedral of
AviEnOn.
Firenze, Spiullo Aretino and Simone
Memmi adorned the walls. Memmi
did much work in the cathedral, where
lie painted Petrarch as st. George and
Laura as the virgin. This has per-
ished utterly, but sundry bits attrib-
uted to him are still shown in various
parts Of the palace.
1t is curious complication that
French kings controlled the pores in
.Avigaon, although the territory Of
Provence belonged to Jeanne, Queen
Of Naples and Sicily. The story runs
that Jeanne was an italian Mary
Stuart. She murdered her husband
one night, and married her lover the
next. Then she had to flee and took
refuge in her French possessions.
While there she tired Of a province she
never ruled, she sold Avignon to the
pope for $4,000 forms and for absolu-
ton for her sins. The city actually re-
manned in the possession Of the pom
tiffs until the French revolution.
Yet they were exiles. In their own
city and palace they longed for
Rome. The treasurers grew, the pal
ace spread, now a cathedral, now a
museum, now monastery, until it far
exceeded in splendor the papal palace
reconcile them. Innocent VI, built
the little chapel for his solace. Urban
", sought to escape. Gregory Nj,
in 1870 pinned in the midst of his
spiendor.
He was nephew of Clement VI,
educated in the palace. and vas
friend Of the old age of Petrarch, who
died four years later. Indeed, the
popes of Avignon cover almost the
period of Petrarch's life. He died, in
1874, and two years later Pope Greg
DRY HI, headed the procession over st.
Benzcnet bridge and arrived in the
holy city early in 1877.
Long did he hesitate. Twice he
thought the time had come, but he
procrastinated. He dearly loved the
luxury Of this splendid palace. 1t
would be difficult to transport the
treasures and sacred relics over the
Alps. Then there happened a mar
velous thing. Twice has France been
rescued by simple peasant woman;
once temporarily, once spiritually.
Early in the year 1876 beautiful
Italian girl calling herself Catherine
Of Siena arrived at Avignon-a frag-
lie country girl, daughter Of dyer.
She was worn with Hastings and pray
er, and was dreamer and seer Of
visions. Her power in Italy was Won
.derful. and the Florentines, who were
under ban, besought her to bring
Al 1>o ~, 70 1o Iol nj x,{ RI 1yyo0
among his special people.
With her first word Gregory XII, &C.
complished prc.;lte and courtier, was
smitten with rcmorse. She preached
in his private chapel she prayed she
exhorted, and she won all hearts.
Riding beside the pontiff she led him
back to Rome, followed by splendid
cortege, train Of treasure and an
army of soldiers and servants.
Avignon's days Of splendor We're
over. For fifty years it was the resi-
.dence Of the French antipopes.
Clement VII, and Benedica XIII.
The latter of these was reconciled to
Rome in 1924, resigned his Office. and
the despotic era OF the popes of Rome
was fairly established. Many times
the papal legate has lived here, and
there are records of splendid recep-
ton given in the palace to Marie de
Medicis on her way to marry Henry
w., of France.
TWO of the Avignon popes are bur
led in the cathedral and there are
monuments of two others in the mus
cum and one at Villeneuve. The sinn-
GUS town and fore of Villeneuve IN
the ashen hillside, fostered as a men,
ace to the popes, is utterly neglected.
But it is worth while to visit Castle
Hill. If only for the lovely view Of
Aviguon The stately circuit of the
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