Jacques Fournier, Pope Benedict XII

Jacques Fournier (c. 1285–1342), born at Saverdun in the County of Foix, joined the Cistercians and became Abbot of Fontfroide in 1311. As Bishop of Pamiers from 1317 he hunted the last Cathars of Languedoc; his inquiry led to the burning of Guillaume Bélibaste in 1321, and his Montaillou inquiries filled the Fournier Register.

A cardinal from 1327, he kept wearing his Cistercian cowl and was nicknamed the white cardinal. Elected pope at Avignon in 1334 as Benedict XII, third of the Avignon popes, he could not move the court to Rome and built the great papal palace at Avignon instead.

He reformed the monastic orders, opposed nepotism and settled John XXII's beatific vision dispute with the bull Benedictus Deus, but could not bring Emperor Louis IV to terms. He died in April 1342 and was buried at Avignon.