On January 17, 1377 Pope Gregory XI moved the papacy back to Rome after a sojourn of just over 70 years at Avignon in France. There were many factors behind the move from Rome to Avignon in 1305 – mainly the constant state of war in Italy, the influence of French kings who wanted to use the papacy for their own ends and the fact that many members of the Curia were French.
The intention to return to Rome at some point remained and prompted by St Catherine of Sienna the move was made on this day.
Loving God down through history the papacy has had a series of ups and downs and survived a number of threats from both inside and outside the church.
Today is no different so we ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for Pope Francis in his attempts to reform the Church.
He is doing so in the face of strong opposition from many within the church who see his papacy as a catastrophe.
Amen
By Fr Pat O'Shea - Lower Hutt
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