Gerald Odonis

Gerald Odonis (1285–1349), born at Camboulit, joined the Franciscans at Figeac and taught theology at Toulouse and Paris. His order was split over poverty: John XXII had deposed Michael of Cesena in 1328, and in 1329 the Paris general chapter, siding with the pope, elected Gerald Minister General.

In 1331 he represented John at Naples, where King Robert and Queen Sancia protected the strict adherents of poverty. On 18 December 1333 he defended John's teaching on the beatific vision at Paris. In 1337 he pushed his Benedictine constitutions through the Cahors chapter, and kept sending missionaries to Persia, Malabar and China.

In 1342 Clement VI made him Patriarch of Antioch and Bishop of Catania. When the Black Death reached Messina in 1347, Catania would not let St Agatha's relics go, so he dipped them in water and carried the water there himself. He died of the plague in 1349.