Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did the transfer of the papal Curia to Avignon affect the papacy?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

King Philip IV — Philip IV Philip IV, detail of the statue from his tomb, 14th century; in the abbey church at Saint-Denis, France.

The transfer of the papal Curia to Avignon (1309–1377) represented a major political victory for Philip IV of France, following his intense conflict with the papacy.123

While the period was characterized by a French-dominated Sacred College of Cardinals, the papacy remained more independent than critics often assumed. During this time, the church underwent significant administrative centralization, promoted university education, and initiated various reform and missionary efforts.2

However, the residency at Avignon—often termed the "Babylonian Captivity"—severely damaged the prestige of the papacy, particularly in England and Germany. The increased influence and ambitions of the cardinals during this era eventually contributed to the Great Western Schism, a period of division that led to the rise of conciliarism, which challenged the absolute authority of the pope.24