The Portland daily press., 1895-11-02


MAKE SIX promises. The story runs that
THESE We're: His own restoration to the
cnuroh and removal of the ban; the resig-
hatlon of the French tithes to the crown
lor I'VE years; thorough yilliicatlon OF
nohlface Will the bestowal of the car
uihal's hat on two of the Colonnas, anu.
sixth, something which he was not then
ready to divulge The final favor is sup
posed to be the removal OF the papal see
to Ayignon.
1t must be remembered that the age
was unspeakably corrupt. The rigid rule
OF the middle ages was not yet IN force,
and the church was often in the power
OF INSCRIPTIONS princes. This Clement
V. was elected at Lyons in 1905, and
| four years later rode into Avlgnon.
Shortly afterward he condemned the
Templars, all of which SO preyed on his
mind that he died.
His successor, John XXI, began the
building of the palace He raised the
north facade and the Tour st. Jean, now
detached, riding about on white mule
to inspect the works, for he had solemnly
promised an Orsino that ne would never
mount horse again until he rode into
Rome. Peitro Ohriera was the architect
retained by Pope John, and so well did
he build that not line of that noble ex-
erior is marred today, after five CEN
turtles. Under Benedict XII. the same
architect built the south end in beautiful
harmony.
When Clement vi came on the apos-
tolic throne he built the west wing, and
then began to fill the palace with teauti-
full frescoes and statues. Giotto, Taddea
Gaddi, Giovanni do Milano, Firenze
Spiullo Areino and Simone Memmi
work in the cathedral, where he painted
Petrarch as st. George and Laura as the
virgin. This has persisted utterly, but
sundry bits attributed to him are still
shown in various parts of the palace.
1t is curious complication that French
kings controlled the popes in Avignon,
although the territory of Provence be-
longed 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, tired of a province she never
ruled, she sold Avignon to the pope for
so, 900 forms and for absolution for her
SINS The city actually remained in the
possession of the pontiffs until the French
revolution.
Yet they were exiles. In their own city
and palace they longed for Rome. The
treasures grew, the palace spread, now
a cathedral, now museum, now mon
astery, until it far exceeded in splendor
the papa1 palace in Rome. Time and
splendor did not reconcile them. limo
cent VI. built the little chapel for has
solace. Urban V. sought to escape.
Gregory XII in 1870 pined in the midst
OF his spiendor.
He was nephew of Clement VI, edu-
Gated in the palace, and was 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.
Ho died in 1874, and two years later Pope
Gregory XI. headed the procession over
st. Benzenet bridge and arrived in the
holy city in 1877.
Long did he hesitate. Twice he thought
the time had come, but he procrastinated.
He dearly loved the luxury of this splen-
did palace. 1t would be difficult to trans
port the treasures and sacred relics over
the Alps. Then there happened ii marvel
GUS thing. Twice has Flance been res
cued by simple peasant woman; once
temporarily. once spiritually.
Early n the year 1877 6 a beautiful Ital-
ian girl calling herself Catherine of
Siena arrived at Avignon--a fragile
country girl. daughter of dyer. She was
worn with fasting and prayer, and was
dreamer and seer.