Pope Gregory XI

Pope Gregory XI (; 1331 –27 March 1378), born Pierre Roger de Beaufort, was a French cleric of the Roman Catholic Church and the 201st Pope from 1370 until his death. "List of Popes,"  Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2011-11-29.

He was the seventh and last of the popes who lived in Avignon in France.

 Early life 
Pierre Roger de Beaufort was born in 1331 in Limousin in France.Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. (1838).  "Gregory XI," Penny cyclopaedia, Vol. 11, p. 446. The Rosier or Roger family were important in Limousin in central France.Arms of the Roger de Beaufort ; retrieved 2011-12-1.

Beaufort was a nephew of Pope Clement VI."Pope Gregory XI", Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2013-3-21.

Cardinal
Clement VI raised Beaufort to the rank of cardinal in 1348.

 Pope 
Cardinal Beaufort was elected pope in 1370; and he chose to be called Gergory XI.  He was ordained as a priest on January 4, 1371; and was crowned pope on the following day, January 5, 1371

In 1377, Gregory XI was persuaded by Catherine of Siena to return to Rome. "Gregory XI (1329-1378),"  Who's Who in Christianity; retrieved 2012-7-18.  He reestablished the papacy in Italy.

Gregory is also remembered as the Pope who condemned John Wycliffe.

Western Schism
When Gregory died on March 27, 1378, the cardinals in Rome elected an Italian-born pope named Urban VI as his successor.

In Avignon, the cardinals elected a French-born pope who they named Clement VII.

The Western Schism begins with the dispute between the supporters of the Italian-born pope and the French-born pope.

Related pages 
 List of popes
 List of popes from the Roger family
 Avignon Papacy

References

Other websites 


   "Gregory XI", Encyclopædia Britannica, 1911
  Catholic Hierarchy,  Pope Gregory XI
  Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church ,  Cardinal Roger de Beaufort 

Category:French popes
Category:1331 births
Category:1378 deaths