Who he was
Guillaume de Grimoard, of a knightly family, became a Benedictine monk and one of the leading canon lawyers of his day, teaching at Montpellier, Toulouse, Paris and Avignon. He was Abbot of St Germain at Auxerre and then of St Victor at Marseilles, and served the popes on missions in Italy. He was not a cardinal when he was elected in 1362, and heard the news while on an embassy to Naples. He lived as a monk throughout his reign and continued to wear the Benedictine habit.
What he is remembered for
In 1367 he brought the papacy back to Rome for three years, but returned to Avignon in 1370 and died there that December. He was a great patron of learning who founded the universities of Kraków and Vienna, and he refused to enrich his relatives. Miracles were reported at his tomb in Marseilles, and Pius IX confirmed his veneration as Blessed in 1870.
He is honoured by the Church as Blessed. Read his page in the dictionary of saints.
Sources
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