Blessed Benedict XI, who began his reign as pope in October 1303, died suddenly in Perugia, Italy, in July 1304. Many at the time believed he was poisoned. Benedict was elected pope during a power struggle between the Roman papacy and King Philip IV of France, whose chief adviser had arranged for Benedict’s predecessor, Boniface VIII, to be kidnapped. After Benedict died, he was succeeded by Clement V, who largely appeased the French king and became the first pope to rule from Avignon, France, ushering in the Avignon papacy (1309–77).
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