POPE JOHN XXII, THE SECOND AVIGNON POPE

by | Sep 6, 2023 | Popes

Pens and paper of the 14th century Pope John XXII was a most difficult man. His argumentative nature, his waffling decisions and his absolute desire to have ecclesiastical authority be supreme all made him hard to deal with. Born Jacques Dueze in 1244 at Cahors in...

POPE CLEMENT V AND THE DEMISE OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR

by | Sep 5, 2023 | Popes

Knights Templar Bertrand de Got was born in Aquitaine, now in France, but then in the Holy Roman Empire. At first, being from a wealthy family, he entertained himself with studying the arts in Toulouse and enjoying wine making. Later he studied canon and civil law at...

POPE BENEDICT XI

by | Jul 6, 2023 | Popes

Pope Benedict XI was born Nicolo Boccasinni in Trevisio, the Republic of Venice, around 1240. His father, a notary, died in 1246, leaving a wife and two children. Their lives became easier when a Dominican friar left them money. Half would go to Nicolo, if he became a...

POPE BONIFACE VIII

by | Jun 24, 2023 | Popes

Pope Boniface VIII Pope Boniface VIII was born Benedetto Caetani around 1230. Born in Anagni, a comfortable summer home for many past popes, he was the sone of Roffredo Caetani, of a poor but baronial family, and Emilia Patrasso di Guarcino, the niece of Pope...