Editing Pope Benedict XII (section)

==Papacy==
From the beginning of his pontificate, Benedict worked to reform the Curia and secular clergy in an effort to curb clerical avarice and nepotism as well as abuses in the granting of benefices. However, the religious orders were the primary target of his major reform efforts. By 1335–1336, Benedict had enacted changes that are viewed as one of the milestones of his pontificate.{{sfn|Bueno|2018|p=16}}

===Emperor Louis IV===
Following Benedict's election, ambassadors were received from [[Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Louis IV]] seeking a pardon and an end to the conflict.{{sfn|Lee|2018|p=259-260}}{{sfn|Mollat|1965|p=221}} Benedict, who was entreated by Louis' ambassadors why the emperor should be pardoned, had declared his intentions in favour of Louis.{{sfn|Mollat|1965|p=221}} By the end of 1335, however, political manoeuvring by both [[Philip VI of France]] and Louis IV,{{efn|Louis IV entered into an alliance with Edward III of England.{{sfn|Lee|2018|p=260}}}} had pressured Benedict into delaying negotiations.{{sfn|Lee|2018|p=260}}

The interdict placed on the [[Holy Roman Empire]] had caused havoc; the rebellion of the archbishop of Mainz (1329–1332),{{sfn|Engel|2008|p=114}} disagreements between the Hospitallers, the Teutonic knights and the Francicans, while the secular clergy largely defied it.{{sfn|Mollat|1965|p=221}} Benedict again received ambassadors from Louis, after German bishops and the Estates of the Empire implored Louis to find a settlement.{{sfn|Mollat|1965|p=223}} An agreement was never reached.{{sfn|Lee|2018|p=260}} In response, at Rhens on 16 July 1338, the Estates passed a new declaration giving the Emperor authority over all rights and goods within the Empire without the need of papal approval and that all decrees against Louis by John XXII were "an offense against God" and illegal.{{sfn|Lee|2018|p=260}}

Despite this, Benedict sent his chaplain, Arnaud de Verdale, to entreat with Louis and was assured by the emperor and prince electors of a forthcoming embassy.{{sfn|Mollat|1965|p=224}} No ambassadors ever arrived from Louis and Benedict's attempt to restore the [[Holy Roman Empire]] to papal supervision came to nothing.{{sfn|Mollat|1965|p=224}}

===Bologna===
Benedict planned on moving the papacy to Bologna by 1 October 1335.{{efn|According to [[Enrico Castelnuovo]] and Alessio Monciatti.{{sfn|Theis|2018|p=111}}}} He even hired, in August 1335, Jean Poisson to supervise repairs to [[St. Peter's Basilica|St. Peter]], St. Paul basilicas, and the papal palace in Rome.{{sfn|Theis|2018|p=111-112}} The cost ran into several thousand florins.{{sfn|Theis|2018|p=112}} Valerie Theis, states the construction in Rome may have been a way of Benedict disguising his true intention of settling permanently in Avignon.{{sfn|Theis|2018|p=112}} Consequently, in 1335, he ordered the construction of the [[Palais des Papes]] in [[Avignon]], which was finished under [[Pope Clement VI]].{{sfn|Pluger|2003|p=198}}

===Theological discourse===
Benedict spent most of his time working on questions of [[theology]]. He rejected many of the ideas developed by John XXII. In this regard, he promulgated an [[apostolic constitution]], [[Benedictus Deus (Benedict XII)|''Benedictus Deus'']], in 1336.{{sfn|Sommer|2021|p=326}} This dogma defined the Church's belief that the souls of the departed go to their eternal reward immediately after death, as opposed to remaining in a state of unconscious existence until the [[Last Judgment]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Ben12/B12bdeus.html |title=''Benedictus Deus'' on |publisher=Papalencyclicals.net |access-date=2013-06-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531034830/http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Ben12/B12bdeus.html |archive-date=2013-05-31 }}</ref> Though some claim that he campaigned against the [[Immaculate Conception]], this is far from clear.

===Philip VI of France===
On 15 January 1336 Benedict requested Philip VI's assistance in bringing about peace in the western Mediterranean, where the crusade was being hampered by conflicts between Aragon and Genoa, Naples and Sicily.{{sfn|Housley|1986|p=29}} This was followed by the pope's letter, two months later, canceling the crusade, citing the belief that Christendom was too crippled by domestic quarrels.{{sfn|Housley|1986|p=29}} On 18 December, Benedict cancelled the six-year tenth crusading tithe.{{sfn|Housley|1986|p=29}}

Though born a Frenchman, Benedict felt no patriotism towards France nor its king, [[Philip VI of France|Philip VI]].{{sfn|Sumption|1990|p=152-153}} From the start of his papacy, relations between him and Philip were frigid.{{sfn|Sumption|1990|p=152-153}} After being informed of Philip's plan to invade Scotland, Benedict hinted that King [[Edward III of England]] would most likely win, regardless.{{sfn|Sumption|1990|p=152-153}} In 1340, Benedict's marshal kidnapped English envoys and handed them over to the French.{{sfn|Collins|2009|p=288}} Using papal sanctions, Benedict secured their release and had the marshal hanged.{{sfn|Collins|2009|p=288}}

===Italian intervention===
In 1339, Benedict moved the papal archives from Assisi to Avignon.{{sfn|Renouard|1970|p=41}} Unlike his predecessor, he refrained from papal intervention in Italy, issuing a large list of absolutes for Ghibelline cities, including Milan, giving release from interdict and excommunication in exchange for peace.{{sfn|Dale|2007|p=5-6}} In an effort to secure the acceptance of papal temporal sovereignty in Italy, Benedict negotiated with [[Azzone Visconti]].{{sfn|Dale|2007|p=6}} Azzo was prepared to renounce Louis of Bavaria, but he refused to accept papal rule over Piacenza, Lodi, and Crema, which were Lombard cities.{{sfn|Dale|2007|p=6}} He would never be forgiven for this rejection, and he died while excommunicated.{{sfn|Dale|2007|p=6}} Nevertheless, Luchino Visconti was appointed by Benedict as Azzo's papal vicar for Milan and ruler of Piacenza and Crema after Azzo's death in 1339.{{sfn|Dale|2007|p=6}}