Pope Gregory XI Returns Papacy to Rome
For nearly seven decades, the popes had resided in Avignon, France, under the influence of French monarchs following the move initiated by Pope Clement V in 1309. This period, known as the Avignon Papacy or Babylonian Captivity, distanced the papal court from its traditional seat in Rome and fueled criticism of the Church's independence. Pope Gregory XI, the last French pope and seventh Avignon pontiff, faced mounting pressure from Italian figures including St. Catherine of Siena, who urged his return to restore the Church's spiritual authority and address conflicts in Italy. On January 17, 1377, Gregory made a solemn entrance into Rome after departing Avignon the previous year and traveling via sea to Ostia. He entered the city despite opposition...