John XXII (about 1245-1334) was elected pope in 1316. He was the second pope to spend his reign in Avignon, France, instead of Rome. See Pope (The troubles of the papacy) .
John had a stormy reign. A conflict with the German emperor Louis IV of Bavaria lasted from 1322 until John’s death. Louis had attempted to assert imperial authority in Italy over the church, and John excommunicated him in 1324. John also had a serious dispute with the Franciscan religious order over the issue of Franciscan poverty. A number of Franciscans refused to conform to papal definitions of poverty, seceded from the order, and allied themselves with the emperor.
John was an important administrator and legislator. In 1317, he issued a significant collection of church laws, which dealt with the decrees of the Council of Vienne (1311-1312) and those of Clement V, the preceding pope. John was born in Cahors, France. His given and family name was Jacques Duese. He died on Dec. 4, 1334.
