# Pope Benedict XII

_Pope of the Catholic Church 1334–1342_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pope-benedict-xii
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Pope Benedict XII, born Jacques Fournier, was a cardinal and inquisitor, and later, head of the Catholic Church from 30 December 1334 to his death, in April 1342. He was the third Avignon pope and reformed monastic orders and opposed nepotism. Unable to remove his capital to Rome or Bologna, Benedict started the great palace at Avignon. He settled the beatific vision controversy of Pope John XXII with the bull Benedictus Deus, which stated that souls may attain the "fullness of the beatific vision" before the Last Judgment. Despite many diplomatic attempts with Emperor Louis IV to resolve their differences, Benedict failed to bring the Holy Roman Empire back under papal dominance. He died 25 April 1342 and was buried in Avignon.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 1280 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q170389#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Saverdun ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q170389#P19))
- **Died:** 25 April 1342 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q170389#P570))
- **Place of death:** Avignon ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q170389#P20))
- **Citizenship:** France ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q170389#P27))
- **Occupation:** Catholic priest; theologian; inquisitor; Catholic bishop; diplomat; bishop ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q170389#P106))
- **Education:** University of Paris ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q170389#P69))
- **Positions held:** Pope (28 December 1334 – 25 April 1342); bishop of Mirepoix (since 2 March 1326); diocesan bishop (since 19 March 1317) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q170389#P39))

## Questions

**When was Pope Benedict XII born?**  
Pope Benedict XII was born on 1280 in Saverdun.

**What positions has Pope Benedict XII held?**  
Positions held by Pope Benedict XII include: Pope (1334–1342); bishop of Mirepoix (since 2 March 1326); diocesan bishop (since 19 March 1317).

**Where did Pope Benedict XII study?**  
Pope Benedict XII was educated at University of Paris.

## Related

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- [Pope Gregory XIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-xiii)
- [Pope Clement VII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-vii)
- [Pope Pius I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-i)
- [Pope Boniface I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-boniface-i)
- [Pope Agapetus I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-agapetus-i)
- [Pope Innocent XI](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-xi)
- [Pope Alexander VII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-alexander-vii)
- [Pope Clement V](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-v)
- [Pope Urban VIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-urban-viii)
- [Pope Paul III](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-paul-iii)
- [Pope Gregory XIV](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-xiv)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Benedict XII](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XII) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q170389](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q170389) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Benoît XII Paolo de Siena 1341 crypte de St Pierre de Rome.jpg by Original uploaded by: JPS68 (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beno%C3%AEt_XII_Paolo_de_Siena_1341_crypte_de_St_Pierre_de_Rome.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Benedict XII, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Benoît XII Paolo de Siena 1341 crypte de St Pierre de Rome.jpg — Original uploaded by: JPS68, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Pope Benedict XII". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-benedict-xii. Retrieved 6 November 2026.