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Name:
Pope Clement VI
Born: Pierre Roger
Preceded by: Benedict XII (1334 - 1342)
Succeeded by: Innocent VI (1352 - 1362)
Roman Catholic Pope #199
Dates:
Born: 1291 (France)
Died: December 6, 1352
Pope: May 7, 1342 - December 6, 1352
Biography:
Clement VI would become the most "French" of the popes ruling from Avignon, appointing
mostly Frenchmen to the position of cardinal when openings occurred. He also "ruled" in
a very secular manner, holding a richly ordained court in a vastly enlarged palace. His
efforts to calm other secular rulers was not very successful, however, and the Hundred
Years War raged around him without pause.
In 1343 he issued the papal bull Unigenitus ("Unbegotten"), declaring that the accumulated merit of the Catholic Church, won by Christ and the Saints, could be drawn upon by the faithful through something known as Indulgendces. This doctrine was later challenged by Martin Luther and was an important factor in the development of the Protestant Reformation.
On the positive side, he went out of his way to help persecuted Jews. In 1348 the Black Death was sweeping across Europe and three-quarters of the population of Avignon died. As happened so often, the Jews were blamed for this and might have been slaughtered, were it not for the personal efforts of Clement to protect and shield them. He also issued bulls commanding others to work to protect Jews from similar danger elsewhere.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
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