Gregory XI Biography

Appointed Pope

Fails to move the Church from France back to Rome

The Schism in the Western Roman Church resulted from the return of the papacy to Rome under Gregory XI on January 17, 1377, ending the Avignon Papacy, which had developed a reputation for corruption that estranged major parts of Western Christendom

The Schism in the Western Roman Church resulted from the return of the papacy to Rome under Gregory XI on January 17, 1377, ending the Avignon Papacy, which had developed a reputation for corruption that estranged major parts of Western Christendom

After Pope Gregory XI died the Romans rioted to ensure the election of a Roman for pope. On April 8, 1378 the cardinals elected a Neapolitan when no viable Roman candidates presented themselves. Urban VI the Archbishop of Bari, was elected.

Many of the cardinals who had elected removed themselves from Rome to Anagni, where, even though Urban was still reigning, they elected Robert of Geneva as a rival Pope. Robert took the name Clement VII and reestablished a papal court in Avignon.

The second election threw the Church into turmoil. There had been Popes before, but most of them had been appointed by rival factions; in this case, a single group of leaders of the Church had created both the Pope and the Pope

Urban had been a respected administrator in the papal chancery at Avignon, but as Pope he proved suspicious, reformist, and prone to violent outbursts of temper.

Death of Gregory XI

After Pope Gregory XI died the Romans rioted to ensure the election of a Roman for pope. On April 8, 1378 the cardinals elected a Neapolitan when no viable Roman candidates presented themselves. Urban VI the Archbishop of Bari, was elected.

Many of the cardinals who had elected removed themselves from Rome to Anagni, where, even though Urban was still reigning, they elected Robert of Geneva as a rival Pope. Robert took the name Clement VII and reestablished a papal court in Avignon.

The second election threw the Church into turmoil. There had been Popes before, but most of them had been appointed by rival factions; in this case, a single group of leaders of the Church had created more than one Pope

Urban had been a respected administrator in the papal chancery at Avignon, but as Pope he proved suspicious, reformist, and prone to violent outbursts of temper.