Pope Benedict XII

pope of the Catholic Church 1334–1342

Pope Benedict XII (Latin: Benedictus Duodecimus; died April 25, 1342), born Jacques Fournier, was a French priest of the Roman Catholic Church and the 198th Pope from 1334 to 1342.[1]

Benedict XII
Papacy beganDecember 20, 1334
Papacy endedApril 25, 1342
PredecessorPope John XXII
SuccessorPope Clement VI
Personal details
Birth nameJacques Fourier
Bornc. 1280s
Saverdun, France
Died(1342-04-25)April 25, 1342
Avignon
Other popes named Benedict

He was the third of the seven popes who lived in Avignon in France.

Early life

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Jacques Fournier is believed to have been born in Saverdun in the Comté de Foix near Toulouse.[2]

He became a Cistercian monk; and he studied at the University of Paris.[2]

In 1311, he was made Abbot of Fontfroide Abbey.[2]

Bishop

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In 1317, Fourier was made bishop of Pamiers.[2]

In 1327, he became Bishop of Mirepoix in the Ariège.[2]

Cardinal

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Pope John XXIII made Fourier a cardinal in 1327.[2]

Cardinal Fourier was elected pope in 1335;[2] and he chose to be called Benedict XII.[3]

Pope Benedict was involved in Italian and European political disputes.[2]

Benedict XII ordered the construction of the Palais des Papes in Avignon.[2]

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References

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Emblem of the popes
  1. "List of Popes," Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2011-11-02.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "Pope Benedict XII," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-3.
  3. Note on ordinal numbering: Popes Benedict XI–XVI are really the 10th–15th popes with that name. This is because Benedict X is now parsed as an antipope; but during the reign of Benedict XI, this was not recognized. The "true" or actual eleventh pope Benedict identified himself with the ordinal number XII. In other words, the numbering of popes after the 10th Benedict needs to be explained -- compare Popes Boniface VIII–IX.

Other websites

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  Media related to Benedictus XII at Wikimedia Commons

  •   "Pope Benedict XII" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913.
  • Catholic Hierarchy, Pope Benedict XII
  • Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church Archived 2011-10-30 at the Wayback Machine, Cardinal Fourier
Preceded by
John XXII
Pope
1334–1342
Succeeded by
Clement VI