Holy Year 1300 A D.

Cue (NZERS), 1 June 1944, Page 12

Holy Year 1300 A D.

The condition of Rome still remained one of delicate political , balance and towards the end of the century.. Boniface VIII, no doubt impressed by the enthusiasm of the citizens . for the glories of ancient Rome proposed to vevive, in Christian form; the secular games which were formerly held at the end of each century. In .1300 he proposed a Holy Year. Vast numbers of t pilgrims came from all parts of Europe to . the seven pilgrimage churches of Rome. It is reliably estimated that nearly two million pilgrims visited the city and so great was the crowd that their needs and wants occupied the local population to the exclusion of party fighting. At the suggestion of the populace, and in the interest of the wouldbe pilgrim, the institution was revived first at 50-year, then at 33, and finally at 25year intervals.

On .the death of Boniface, a French Pope was elected with, the name of Clement V. Afraid to trust himself as a

stranger in the Roman city he wisely elected to remain under the protection of the French King, establishing his Court at Avignon in 1309. There the Popes dwelt for nearly 70 years.