Pope Benedict XII

Pope Benedict XII (; died April 25, 1342), born Jacques Fournier, was a French priest of the Roman Catholic Church and the 198th Pope from 1334 to 1342. "List of Popes,"  Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2011-11-02.

He was the third of the seven popes who lived in Avignon in France.

Early life
Jacques Fournier is believed to have been born in Saverdun in the Comté de Foix near Toulouse."Pope Benedict XII," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-3.

He became a Cistercian monk; and he studied at the University of Paris.

In 1311, he was made Abbot of Fontfroide Abbey.

Bishop
In 1317, Fourier was made bishop of Pamiers.

In 1327, he became Bishop of Mirepoix in the Ariège.

Cardinal
Pope John XXIII made Fourier a cardinal  in 1327.

Pope
Cardinal Fourier was elected pope in 1335; and he chose to be called Benedict XII.Note on ordinal numbering: Popes Benedict XI–XVI are really the 10th–15th popes with that name.  This is because Benedict X is now parsed as an antipope; but during the reign of Benedict XI, this was not recognized. The "true" or actual eleventh pope Benedict identified himself with the ordinal number XII.  In other words, the numbering of popes after the 10th Benedict needs to be explained -- compare Popes Boniface VIII–IX.

Pope Benedict was involved in Italian and European political disputes.

Benedict XII ordered the construction of the Palais des Papes in Avignon.

Related pages 
 List of popes
 Avignon Papacy

References

Other websites


  Catholic Hierarchy, Pope Benedict XII
 Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church ,  Cardinal Fourier 

Category:1280s births
Category:1342 deaths
Category:French popes