In the 14th century, the papacy was exiled for 68 years (1309-77) at Avignon, France. In many ways, the leadership of the Catholic Church continued to function normally: Bishops received their ...

Overlooking the Rhone River on the western edge of Provence is the beautiful city of Avignon, France. Surrounded by a huge wall at least 10 feet thick, this medieval town of cobblestone streets, open ...

The papacy finally returned to Rome in 1377. Pope Francis never liked grand titles. He called himself the Bishop of Rome, not the ruler of Vatican City. He carried his own bag, wore simple shoes and ...

Clinging to a bend in the Rhone River in the south of France, Avignon looks and feels like it’s stepped out of a medieval fairy tale. While it’s largely famous for its 14th-century heyday as a papal ...

Clinging to a bend in the Rhone River in the south of France, Avignon looks and feels like it stepped out of a medieval fairy tale. While it’s largely famous for its 14th-century heyday as a papal ...