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The Popes of Avignon: When the Papacy Left Rome
In 1309, Pope Clement V moved the papal seat from Rome to Avignon, a small city on the Rhône. For nearly 70 years, seven popes ruled Christendom from a palace in Provence, never setting foot in St. Peter's. This episode explores why the papacy left, how Avignon became a center of power and art, and the lasting consequences for the Church — including the Great Western Schism. We trace the role of King Philip IV of France, the pressure on the College of Cardinals, the construction of the Palais des Papes, and the return to Rome under Gregory XI. Along the way, we meet figures like Pope…
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