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John XXII
(1244 - December 4, 1334) France

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John XXII
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Pope

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Born in Cabors as Jacques Duèze (or Duese; D'euse ), he was trained in canon law at Montpellier, and became a canon lawyer under Pope Boniface VIII. The election of this Pope took more than two years because the Conclave was interrupted frequently by riots. His election took place at Lyon on the 5th September 1316.

He reigned from Avignon, and led an intense ecclesiastical life. He was an excellent administrator, and reorganized the Church's beaurocracy, insituted the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, and canonized St Thomas Aquinas. He was also responsible for the institution of the Sacra Rota and for the building of the Papal Palace in Avignon.

In 1323, a quarrel broke out between pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, Louis IV of Bavaria due to John's claims of secular authority over the empire, and Louis' support of the spiritual Franciscans whom John had condemned for their insistence on poverty. Louis invaded Italy, and in 1328 he set up Pietro Rainalducci as anti-pope Nicholas V. The project was a fiasco, but John withdrew his claims of authority over the empire.

John XXII coat of armsJohn XXII died at Avignon of natural causes. Due to some confusion over the order of Popes John in the Middle Ages, John XXII has often been referred to as John XXI.

Pope John XXII missed mustard so much that he created a special post of "the Great Moutardier of His Holiness" at his court. The job of the moutardier was to produce and supply the Pope's court with the highest quality of mustard, the favorite condiment of the Pope. Someone said that it was simply a position created for a relative who was so dumb that he could not be nominated a Cardinal. From this time, a bighead, a dumb person with connections, was called "The Popes Moutardier".

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