Written by Guide Catholic
Pope Clement V (195º): Avignon Papacy — Complete Guide
Pontificate: 5 June 1305–20 April 1314 · Origin: Villandraut, France · Birth name: Clemens Quintus
Clement V was the 195th pope of the Catholic Church, reigning 5 June 1305–20 April 1314 during the high Middle Ages. Initiated the persecution of the Knights Templar with the bull Pastoralis Praeeminentiae under pressure from King Philip IV of France.
Who Was Pope Clement V?
Pope Clement V — 195º in the Catholic list — reigned 5 June 1305–20 April 1314 during the high Middle Ages. Search interest often clusters around Avignon Papacy. Subject of the Kingdom of France. This Guide Catholic profile gathers background, major acts, and legacy so you can read Clement V beside neighboring pontiffs.
Early Life & Background
Before election he was known as Raymond Bertrand de Got (or Goth). Born circa 1264 Villandraut, Gascony, Kingdom of France, he entered a world shaped by politics and piety very different from today's global Church.
Historical Context
Clement V (#undefined) led during crusades, monastic reform, and cathedral culture — and during sharp contests between popes and emperors over authority in Christendom. Convened the Council of Vienne(1311–1312).
Pontificate & Key Events
The pontificate (5 June 1305–20 April 1314) centered on governance during the high Middle Ages. Moved the papacy to Avignon(1309).
Papal Acts & Achievements
Acts associated with Clement V (#195, 5 June 1305–20 April 1314) still draw historians and Catholics who want more than a one-line summary. His reign remains a link in the succession now counted at 267 popes.
Key Highlights
- 195th pope of the Catholic Church
- Pontificate: 5 June 1305–20 April 1314
- Moved the papacy to Avignon(1309).
- Convened the Council of Vienne(1311–1312).
- Initiated the persecution of the Knights Templar with the bull Pastoralis Praeeminentiae under pressure from King Philip IV of Fra
Legacy in the Catholic Church
Clement V remains pope 195º in the Annuario Pontificio. Set against the high Middle Ages, Clement V's choices show both the limits of any one pontiff and the continuity of the office he held.
Why Catholics Study This Pope Today
Catholics who open a page on Clement V usually want more than a birth-death line — they want to know what #195 did inside the high Middle Ages. Start with the concrete record: Initiated the persecution of the Knights Templar with the bull Pastoralis Praeeminentiae under pressure from King Philip IV of France. Convened the Council of Vienne(1311–1312). Where bulls, conciliar acts, or encyclicals survive from this reign, they repay readers who want primary sources rather than summaries alone. Compare Clement V with the biographies of his predecessor and successor linked below to see reform, rupture, or quiet continuity.
Place in the Line of Succession
Clement V followed Pope Bl. Benedict XI (194º, 22 October 1303–7 July 1304) after a transition shaped by the politics and piety of their shared century. He was followed by Pope John XXII (196º, 7 August 1316–4 December 1334), whose biography continues the chain on Guide Catholic. For the full chronological map, see our complete list of all 267 popes — then read neighboring biographies for contrast, not only continuity.