Written by Guide Catholic
Pope John XXII (196º): Avignon Papacy — Complete Guide
Pontificate: 7 August 1316–4 December 1334 · Origin: Cahors, France · Birth name: Ioannes Vicesimus Secundus
John XXII was the 196th pope of the Catholic Church, reigning 7 August 1316–4 December 1334 during the high Middle Ages. Subject of the Kingdom of France.
Who Was Pope John XXII?
John XXII holds the 196º place among Roman pontiffs, with a recorded reign of 7 August 1316–4 December 1334 inside the high Middle Ages. 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 John XXII in context.
Early Life & Background
Before election he was known as Jacques Duèze (or d'Euse). Born circa 1244 Cahors, Quercy, Kingdom of France, he entered a world shaped by politics and piety very different from today's global Church.
Historical Context
John XXII (#undefined) led during crusades, monastic reform, and cathedral culture — and during sharp contests between popes and emperors over authority in Christendom.
Pontificate & Key Events
The pontificate (7 August 1316–4 December 1334) centered on governance during the high Middle Ages. Controversial for his views on the beatific vision. Opposed the Franciscan understanding of the poverty of Christ and his apostles, famously leading William of Ockham to write against unlimited papal power.
Papal Acts & Achievements
Acts associated with John XXII (#196, 7 August 1316–4 December 1334) 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
- 196th pope of the Catholic Church
- Pontificate: 7 August 1316–4 December 1334
- Shepherded the Church during the high Middle Ages
- Successor of St. Peter in the official Catholic list
Legacy in the Catholic Church
John XXII remains pope 196º in the Annuario Pontificio. Set against the high Middle Ages, John XXII's choices show both the limits of any one pontiff and the continuity of the office he held.
Why Catholics Study This Pope Today
Reading John XXII as pope 196º (7 August 1316–4 December 1334) is a way to study how Rome answered the crises of the high Middle Ages. Begin with this documented note: Subject of the Kingdom of France. Then step back to the full list of 267 popes to see where John XXII sits between crisis and consolidation.
Place in the Line of Succession
John XXII followed Pope Clement V (195º, 5 June 1305–20 April 1314) after a transition shaped by the politics and piety of their shared century. He was followed by Pope Benedict XII (197º, 20 December 1334–25 April 1342), 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.