Pope Innocent VI (Latin:Innocentius VI; 1282 – 12 September 1362), bornÉtienne Aubert, was head of theCatholic Church and ruler of thePapal States from 18 December 1352 to his death, in September 1362. He was the fifthAvignon pope and the only one with the pontifical name of "Innocent".
Étienne Aubert, born in theDiocese of Limoges, was a civil law professor and held various positions in the church before being appointed as Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia and Velletri by Pope Clement VI. He became Pope Innocent VI on 30 December 1352. As pope, he revoked an agreement asserting the college of cardinals' superiority over the pope and introduced important reforms in church administration. Through his legate, Cardinal Albornoz, he aimed to restore order in Rome.
Innocent VI played a significant role in the 1360Treaty of Brétigny between France and England. Though he declined an offer to unite the Greek Orthodox Church with the Roman See in exchange for support, his papacy was marked by financial challenges due to wars in Italy and the aftermath of a plague. To address these challenges, he reduced the chapel staff and sold works of art.
Innocent VI was a patron of letters and is generally considered just and merciful, although criticized by some, such asSt. Bridget of Sweden, for his actions against theFraticelli. He died on 12 September 1362 and was succeeded by Urban V. His tomb is located in the Chartreuse du Val de Bénédiction inVilleneuve-lès-Avignon.
Étienne, born during the late 1280s,[1] was the son of Adhemar Aubert, seigneur deMontel-de-Gelat inLimousin province. He was a native of the hamlet of Les Monts,Diocese of Limoges,[2] and, after having taughtcivil law atToulouse, he became successivelyBishop of Noyon in 1338 andBishop of Clermont in 1340.[3] On 20 September 1342, he was raised to the position ofCardinal Priest of SS. John and Paul.[2] In September 1347, Etienne, assigned by Pope Clement VI, accompanied Cardinal Annibaldo as part of a peace envoy which resulted in the Truce of Calais.[4]
Etienne was crowned pope on 30 December 1352 by Cardinal Gaillard de la Mothe after thepapal conclave of 1352.[6] Upon his election, he revoked a signed agreement stating the college of cardinals was superior to the pope.[3] His subsequent policy compares favourably with that of the otherAvignon Popes. He introduced many needed reforms in the administration of church affairs, and through his legate, CardinalAlbornoz, who was accompanied byRienzi, he sought to restore order inRome. In 1355,Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor, was crowned in Rome with Innocent's permission, after having made an oath that he would quit the city on the day of the ceremony.[2]It was largely through the exertions of Innocent VI that theTreaty of Brétigny (1360) betweenFrance andEngland was brought about. During his pontificate, the Byzantine emperorJohn V Palaeologus offered to submit the Greek Orthodox Church to theRoman See in return for assistance againstJohn VI Cantacuzenus. The resources at the disposal of the Pope, however, were all required for exigencies nearer home, and the offer was declined.
Most of the wealth accumulated byJohn XXII andBenedict XII had been lost during the extravagant pontificate ofClement VI. Innocent VI economised by cutting the chapel staff (capellani capelle) from twelve to eight. Works of art were sold rather than commissioned. His pontificate was dominated by the war in Italy and by Avignon's recovery from the plague, both of which made draining demands on his treasury. By 1357, he was complaining of poverty.
Innocent VI was a liberal patron of letters. If the extreme severity of his measures against theFraticelli is ignored, he retains a high reputation for justice and mercy. However, St.Bridget of Sweden denounced him as a persecutor of Christians.[6] He died on 12 September 1362 and was succeeded byUrban V. Today, his tomb can be found in the Chartreuse du Val de Bénédiction, theCarthusian monastery inVilleneuve-lès-Avignon.
