Clement VI, Pope

CLEMENT VI, Pope. - Pierre Roger, b. in 1291 at Maumont (Corrèze) to Guillaume, lord of Rosière, and to Guillemette de Mestre. At the age of ten he entered the Benedictine monastery of Chaise-Dieu. Having received his degree in theology (25 May 1323), he became abbot of Fécamp (23 June 1326), bishop of Arras (3 Dec. 1328), archbishop of Sens (24 Nov. 1329), from where he was transferred to Rouen (14 Dec. 1330), and was created cardinal of the title of Sts. Nereus and Achilleus (18 Dec. 1338). Highly esteemed by Philip VI for his profound learning, uncommon eloquence and unfailing loyalty, he became his keeper of the seals and chancellor. On the death of Benedict XII (25 Apr. 1342), the cardinals, certain of doing something pleasing to the king of France, after barely three days of conclave elected him unanimously (7 May 1342). Unlike his peaceful, austere, imperious and thrifty predecessor, C. was energetic, accommodating, liberal, indeed prodigal, a lover of luxury, generous with his relatives as with princes and subjects; yet he was also charitable. Having soon exhausted the reserves accumulated by his predecessors, C. sharpened the fiscal exactions of the curia, arousing opposition especially in Germany and in England. For lack of means, he could not support his Italian policy as much as was necessary. In Rome, reduced almost to a village, he at first favored the attempt of Cola di Rienzo, but soon grew tired of it, so much so that the papal legate was able to excommunicate him (15 Dec. 1347). In 1350 he proclaimed the jubilee year, fixing its celebration every fifty years. He sought to remedy the very sad conditions of the provinces of the Papal State with a military expedition under the command of Astorgio di Dufort (1350-51); the enterprise failed miserably. Bologna was bought by Giovanni Visconti under the eyes of the papal legate (16 Oct. 1350). The struggle that followed against the Visconti soon ended through exhaustion (28 July 1352). Greater success attended the league concluded by C. with Venice, Cyprus and the Hospitallers against the Turk, which led to the occupation of Smyrna and the victory of Imbros (1344-47). He brought to a successful conclusion the struggle against Louis the Bavarian, who was deposed (13 Apr. 1346) and replaced by Charles IV of Luxembourg. He absolved Joanna of Naples of the accusation of having killed her first husband Andrew of Hungary and permitted her marriage to her cousin Louis of Taranto. During the great plague of 1348, which caused so many millions of victims throughout Europe, C. did not move from the city of Avignon, which had 60 thousand victims, multiplying spiritual and material aids. He defended the Jews, whom the common people called guilty of the plague. D. at Avignon on 6 Dec. 1352.

Ireneo Daniele