Pope Gregory XI

Pope Gregory XI, born in the year 1329, served as the head of the Catholic Church from December 30, 1370, until his death in March 1378. He holds the distinction of being the seventh and final Avignon pope, as well as the most recent pope of French origin.

His papacy is particularly notable for the significant decision he made in 1377 to return the papal court to Rome. This pivotal move marked the end of nearly seventy years of papal residency in Avignon, located in modern-day France, and was a crucial step in the re-establishment of the papacy's authority in Rome.

Gregory XI's tenure was not without its challenges. His death in March 1378 was swiftly followed by the onset of the Western Schism, a period characterized by the existence of rival popes, including two antipopes based in Avignon. This schism would have lasting implications for the Catholic Church and its followers.