Biography
Born to the nobility, one of four children of Guillaume de Grimoard, Lord of Bellegarde, and of Amphélise de Montferrand; his brother later became a cardinal and papal legate. Guillaume became a Benedictine monk at the priory of Chirac, France in 1327. Priest, ordained at the Chirac monastery in 1334. He studied literature and law in Montpellier, France, and then law at the University of Toulouse, France. He received a doctorate in Canon Law on 31 October 1342, and was known as one of the most learned men of his day. Appointed prior of Nôtre-Dame du Pré in the diocese of Auxerre, France by Pope Clement VI. Abbot of Saint-Germain en Auxerre monastery on 13 February 1352. Benedictine Procurator-General at the Papal court. Taught canon law in Montpellier, in Paris and in Avignon, France. Vicar-general of the diocese of Clermont, France c.1350. Vicar-general of the diocese of Uzès, France in 1357. Served as papal legate in Italy several times. Abbot of the abbey of Saint Victor in Marseilles, France from August 1361 to 1362. Advisor to Pope Innocent VI. Apostolic Nuncio in Italy. Sixth of the Avignon Popes; he took the name Urban saying that "all the popes who have borne this name were saints". As pope he eschewed the pomp of the throne, and continued to live by the Benedictine Rule, which led to opposition from courtiers who preferred a more regal life in court. He cut tithes in half, supported students, clerical training, seminaries and colleges, worked to re-unite Latin an Born: 1310 Grizac Castle, Languedoc, France as Guillaume de Grimoard Died: • 19 December 1370 at Avignon, Papal States (in modern France) of natural causes • interrred in the chapel of John XXII in the cathedral of Sante Marie de Domps in Avignon • relics moved to the abbey church of Saint-Victor in Marseille, France on 31 May 1371 where they were interred in a tomb Urban built for himself