Written by Guide Catholic
Pope Gregory XI (201º): Avignon Papacy — Complete Guide
Pontificate: 30 December 1370–27 March 1378 · Origin: Maumont, France · Birth name: Gregorius Undecimus
Gregory XI was the 201st pope of the Catholic Church, reigning 30 December 1370–27 March 1378 during the Renaissance papacy. Subject of the Kingdom of France.
Who Was Pope Gregory XI?
Gregory XI holds the 201º place among Roman pontiffs, with a recorded reign of 30 December 1370–27 March 1378 inside the Renaissance papacy. Search interest often clusters around Avignon Papacy. Subject of the Kingdom of France. What follows is a structured biography — early life, context, acts, and succession — written for Catholics who want Gregory XI in context.
Early Life & Background
Before election he was known as Pierre Roger de Beaufort. Born circa 1329 Maumont, Limousin, Kingdom of France, he entered a world shaped by politics and piety very different from today's global Church.
Historical Context
Gregory XI (#undefined) sat on Peter's chair amid artistic patronage, political intrigue, Reformation shocks, and the widening world of the Americas.
Pontificate & Key Events
The pontificate (30 December 1370–27 March 1378) centered on governance during the Renaissance papacy. Pope at Avignon; returned the seat of the papacy to Rome (1377).
Papal Acts & Achievements
Acts associated with Gregory XI (#201, 30 December 1370–27 March 1378) 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
- 201st pope of the Catholic Church
- Pontificate: 30 December 1370–27 March 1378
- Shepherded the Church during the Renaissance papacy
- Successor of St. Peter in the official Catholic list
Legacy in the Catholic Church
Gregory XI remains pope 201º in the Annuario Pontificio. Set against the Renaissance papacy, Gregory XI's choices show both the limits of any one pontiff and the continuity of the office he held.
Why Catholics Study This Pope Today
If you only remember one modern question about Gregory XI, ask how his decisions served unity and truth under the pressures of the Renaissance papacy. Begin with this documented note: Subject of the Kingdom of France. Use the neighboring pontiff links below to test whether Gregory XI's reign looks unique or typical for the Renaissance papacy.
Place in the Line of Succession
Gregory XI followed Pope Bl. Urban V (200º, 28 September 1362–19 December 1370) after a transition shaped by the politics and piety of their shared century. He was followed by Pope Urban VI (202º, 8 April 1378–15 October 1389), 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.