This week in Christian history: German missionary arrives in India, Jesuit martyred in Japan, papacy leaves France

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, September 08, 2024

Pope Gregory XI begins to move the papacy back to Rome – Sept. 13, 1376

A nineteenth century portrait of Pope Gregory XI (1329-1378), who moved the papacy back to Rome, Italy from Avignon, France in 1377. | Wikimedia Commons

This week marks the anniversary of when Pope Gregory XI began to move the papacy back to Rome, Italy, after almost 70 years of the popes being headquartered in Avignon, France.

Gregory XI decided to return the papacy to Rome partly to influence church policies in Italy and partly to improve relations with Eastern churches.

While the decision was vehemently opposed by the French monarchy and many cardinals, Gregory XI would eventually finalize the transition to Rome by January of the following year.

“He left Avignon on 13 September, 1376, boarded the ship at Marseilles on 2 October, and came by way of Genoa to Corneto on 6 December. Here he remained until arrangements were made in Rome concerning its future government,” explained New Advent.

“On 13 January, 1377, he left Corneto, landed at Ostia on the following day, and sailed up the Tiber to the monastery of San Paolo, from where he solemnly made his entrance into Rome on 17 January.”