RETURN OF THE POPE FROM AVIGNON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 149, 10 March 1876, Page 15

RETURN OF THE POPE FROM AVIGNON.

I>' 1576 occurs the fifth centcuary of the return of the Popes from Avignon to Eome, after an absence of seventy and more years, a period known in the medieval history of the Eternal City as " the Babylonish Captivity." On October 18, 1376, Pope Gregory XI. arrived in Geuoa on board a galley, manned by knights of the celebrated order of St. John of Jerusalem. St. Catherine of Siena had written many letters to tbc Tope entreating him to go back to the capital of the Church ; and at last he yielded to her entreaties and to the inspiration of God. In 1376 she went towards France to meet the Pope ; but in Genoa the stopped some clays in company with the Blessed Raymond, a Dominican, who was her confessor. They stayed in the house of Madame Orietta, a most pious and noble widow and the mother of two sons, one of w hom took the name of Centurionc, and became the founder of the illustrious family of that name which btill exists in Genoa. The house in which the saint remained during these clays has boen destroyed and an oratory built over it, which is dedicated to her. On October 18 the Pope arrived. He was met by several priests and ecclesiastics from Koine who endeavored to persuade him not to proceed on his journey as they declared it might prove dangerous to him. The Pope, who was much agitated by their representations, insisted upon seeing St. Catherine and went privately and in disguise to the house where she was staying. St. Catherine comforted him and assured him that no danger would attend his return to the capital. He was much 6truck by her confidence and after waiting eight days in Genoa set out on his journey and reached Eome five days later. The Italian Catholics propose keeping the centenary of this most important event with much solemnity and it is even thought that it will be celebrated beyond the city of Rome by the Catholics of all nations. — ' Catholic Review.'