Pope Gregory XI’s return to Rome in January 1377 was significant because it marked the end of the Avignon papacy, a period that began in 1309 and saw the seat of the Roman Catholic Church situated in Avignon, France, instead of Rome. Despite the almost immediate onset of the Western Schism, a fragmentation of the Western church’s power that began in 1378 and lasted until 1417, the papacy remained in Rome thereafter. Although numerous antipopes reigned in other cities during the schism, the return of the papacy to Rome signified a restoration of the church’s authority after the manipulations of powerful French monarchs such as Philip IV.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style