Pope John XXII

Pope John XXII was a central figure in the medieval Catholic Church.

Born Jacques Duèze in 1244, he served as the head of the Church from 1316 until 1334. He was the second and longest-reigning Avignon Pope. This means he led the Church while the papacy was based in Avignon, France, rather than Rome. John was a highly skilled administrator who focused on organizing the Church's complex systems.

He preferred a style of governance that relied heavily on strict regulations. His long reign shaped how the Church managed its power and finances for many years.

John's rise to power followed a period of significant instability. After the death of Pope Clement V in 1314, the Church entered an interregnum. This is a period where no pope holds office. For two years, the cardinals were split into three different factions. They could not agree on a leader until Philip, Count of Poitiers, summoned them to Lyon. He forbade the 23 cardinals from leaving until they reached a decision. On 7 August 1316, they elected Jacques, who took the name John XXII. He was crowned in Lyon and established his residence in Avignon.

One of John's most significant achievements was the canonization of Thomas Aquinas.

This is the official process of declaring a person a saint. The investigation began in 1317 after leaders in Sicily requested a formal inquiry. John appointed several commissions to scrutinize records of miracles and testimony. In 1321, a specific commission heard the testimony of 111 witnesses. After reviewing all the documents, John formally canonized Aquinas on 18 July 1323. This process showed John's dedication to thorough, legalistic religious procedures.

John's papacy was also defined by intense political conflicts with secular rulers. He frequently clashed with Louis IV, the Holy Roman Emperor.

John introduced a concept called *vacante imperio*. This idea suggested the pope had the power to administer the empire during vacancies. This caused deep tension with Louis IV. John eventually excommunicated the Emperor in 1324 and declared him deposed in 1325. In response, Louis supported an antipope named Nicholas V. An antipope is someone who claims to be the true pope in opposition to the recognized one. This struggle created great division across Europe.

Another major source of tension involved the Franciscan order. Some members, known as Spiritual Franciscans, held specific views on poverty. They believed that Christ and his apostles owned absolutely nothing. John strongly disagreed with this interpretation. He issued several papal bulls, which are official documents from the pope, to clarify Church doctrine. In 1323, he declared the idea that Christ owned nothing to be heretical. He argued that the Church must have the right to own property. This disagreement led famous thinkers like William of Ockham to write against his authority.

John also managed complex diplomatic relations with various nations. In 1316, he received an embassy from King Edward II of England. The King wanted influence over certain bishoprics in Ireland. John navigated these requests while reminding the King that England owed loyalty to the papacy. He also showed religious tolerance in his diplomacy. In 1318, he sent a letter of thanks to the Muslim ruler Özbeg Khan. John praised the ruler for being kind and tolerant toward Christians. These actions demonstrate how the papacy functioned as a major political player in the 14th century.

Toward the end of his life, John faced local unrest in Italy. He intended to move his residence to Bologna in 1332. A cardinal legate named Bertrand du Pouget worked for years to prepare the city. However, the political climate became dangerous and unstable. A revolt broke out in 1334, leading to the destruction of the papal palace.

John decided it was not safe to move and remained in Avignon. He died there on 4 December 1334, at approximately 89 or 90 years of age. He was buried in the cathedral of Notre-Dame-des-Doms. His life remains a study of how religious and political power intersected in the Middle Ages.