, whose name was James Fournier, was a native of Saverdun, in the diocese
, whose name was James
Fournier, was a native of Saverdun, in the diocese of Pamier, the son of a miller, or of an obscure person; but
some are of opinion that he was descended of a noble family. He embraced a religious Hie when young, among
the Cistertians, and having afterwards received the degree
of master of divinity in the university of Paris, he was
made abbot of Fontfroide, in Narbonne, and when he had
governed that monastery for six years, with great applause,
he was made first bishop of Pamiers, and nine years after
translated to Mirepoix. In December 1327, pope John
XXII. created him cardinal presbyter of St. Prisca, and in
1334, he was elected pope, contrary to all expectation.
The conclave had chosen Comminge, cardinal bishop of
Porto, as the most proper person, but the French cardinal
insisting that he should promise never to go to Rome, he
refused to accept the office on a condition so prejudicial to
the church. In this dilemma, the cardinals being at a loss
whom to nominate, some of them proposed James Fournier, the most inconsiderable of the whole college, “omnium infimus,
” and he was unanimously elected: this
unexpected turn gave occasion to some of the writers of
his days to attribute the whole to divine inspiration, with
as good reason, no doubt, as in the case of any of his predecessors or successors.