Avignon and the threat of a new schism
Pope Gregory XI made a secret promise to God that he would leave Avignon and return to Rome. However, doubts and fears chilled his heart. When he turned to Catalina for advice, he received a harsh warning from her the moment he saw him: “Keep your promise to God,” the saint reproached him. The Pope was completely surprised, because he had not said anything to anyone about what he planned to do.
Thank God, the Holy Father, assisted by the overwhelming strength of Catherine, managed to fulfill his promise and returned to the Eternal City.
Later, upon the death of Gregory XI, Pope Urban VI (1378-1389) would be elected. Suddenly, the most prestigious cardinals distanced themselves from him and declared his election void, and forced a new process in which another pontiff, Pope Clement VII, was elected as a replacement. The procedure to elect him was full of vices and abuses, so that things took an unforeseen, much more serious course. Clement VII, to get away from the Roman curia, decided to reside in Avignon, consummating the period known as the ‘Western Schism’. Saint Catherine sent letters to the cardinals expressing her rejection of the way they had proceeded and called them to order, so that they would recognize the authentic Pontiff, Urban VI.