Blessed Pope Urban V (1310-1370)
(uCatholic) Blessed Pope Urban V was born Giullaume de Grimoard in France Languedoc, he studied Canon Law and Theology in Avignon becoming a Benedictine Monk and in 1352 he was named Abbott of his Monastery , serving as a papal diplomat and was sent as an Ambassador to various locations–also serving as a Bishop around Italy and throughout Europe.
In 1362 the man elected Pope declined the office, when the Cardinal’s could not find another person among them for that important office, they turned to a relative stranger–the holy person we honor today.
Pope Urban V proved a wise choice, as a Benedictine Monk and Canon Lawyer, he was deeply spiritual and brilliant, living simply and modestly which did not always win him friends among clergymen who become used to comfort and privilege.
Still Pope Urban V pressed for reform and saw to the restoration of the Churches and Monasteries. Except for a brief period, he spent most of his 8 years as Pope living away from Rome at Avignon, seat of the papacy from 1309 until shortly after his death.
Pope Urban V came close but was not able to achieve one of his biggest goals–reuniting the Eastern and Western Churches.
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