March 27, 1378 - Pope Gregory XI Dies

Pope Gregory XI, painted portrait, 14th century. Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

The late fourteenth century witnessed one of the most confusing crises in church history. For decades, the papacy had resided in Avignon, France, rather than Rome. Political pressures and factional divisions complicated the church’s leadership and credibility.

Pope Gregory XI, who died on March 27, 1378, was the last universally recognized pope of the Avignon period. Shortly before his death, he returned the papal court to Rome, seeking to restore stability. However, his passing triggered the Western Schism.

After Gregory’s death, rival claimants emerged—one in Rome and another in Avignon. At one point, three men simultaneously claimed to be the legitimate pope. The schism fractured Western Christendom, dividing loyalties among European kingdoms and undermining ecclesiastical unity.

The crisis would not be resolved until the Council of Constance (1414–1418), which deposed rival claimants and elected a single pope.

The events surrounding Gregory XI’s death illustrate how political alliances and ecclesiastical authority became entangled. The Western Schism exposed institutional weaknesses and set the stage for later calls for reform within the church.