The Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy (1309–1377 AD): The move of the papal court to Avignon damaged the church’s moral authority.

• Lead-Up to the Captivity: Boniface VIII's Death and Clement V's Election (1303–1305)
  • After the shocking "Outrage of Anagni" in 1303, where French agents attacked and humiliated Pope Boniface VIII, the papacy was left weak and divided.
  • Boniface died soon after from the trauma, and his successors faced pressure from King Philip IV of France.
  • In 1305, a French archbishop was elected as Pope Clement V, who feared returning to chaotic Rome and stayed in France.
• The Move to Avignon: Beginning of the "Babylonian Captivity" (1309)
  • Clement V moved the papal court to Avignon, a city on France's border owned by the King of Naples but close to French control.
  • This "exile" lasted nearly 70 years, like the ancient Jews' captivity in Babylon—hence the name.
  • All seven popes during this time were French, and most cardinals were too, making the papacy seem like a French tool.
• Political Dependence and Loss of Global Respect (1309–1377)
  • The popes looked like "chaplains" to the French king, not leaders for all Christians.
  • During the Hundred Years' War between France and England, English people hated sending money to a pope who seemed to help their enemy.
  • Nations like England and Germany felt left out, leading to anger against the pope and laws to limit papal power.
• Money Problems and Corruption (Throughout the Period)
  • Cut off from income from Italy's Papal States, the popes built a big office system to collect money.
  • They created new fees like "annates" (taking a bishop's first year's pay) and "reservations" (holding off appointments to grab money).
  • Selling church jobs (simony) and indulgences for cash became common, making the papacy look greedy.
  • The Avignon court was fancy and expensive, full of luxury that shocked poor Christians and hurt the Church's good name.
• Breaking Ties with Rome and Spiritual Harm (Ongoing Impact)
  • Leaving Rome, the "Eternal City" tied to Saint Peter, made the papacy lose its holy roots and seem less special.
  • Thinkers like Marsilius of Padua and William of Ockham attacked papal power, saying councils should lead the Church instead.
  • This time sparked ideas that weakened the pope's role and led to more challenges.
• The Return to Rome and Start of the Great Schism (1377–1378)
  • Pope Gregory XI moved back to Rome in 1377, pushed by saints like Catherine of Siena and growing complaints.
  • But Gregory died soon after, and the next election was messy—cardinals picked one pope, then claimed they were forced and picked another.
  • This started the Great Schism (1378–1417), with two (later three) popes fighting, splitting Europe and making the papacy look even weaker.
• Lasting Effects: Weak Papacy and Path to Reformation (After 1377)
  • The Captivity hurt the Church's trust and power, leading to the Schism and ideas that popes could be wrong.
  • It helped national kings take more control over churches in their lands.
  • Corruption during this time fuelled anger that exploded in the Protestant Reformation.

Endnote

A History of Christianity" by Kenneth Scott Latourette.

 2,000 Years of Christ's Power, Vol. 2: The Middle Ages" by Nick R. Needham   

"Church History in Plain Language" by Bruce Shelley