In 1341, Pope Benedict XII died in Avignon, France, marking a significant moment in the Avignon Papacy. His death led to the election of Pope Clement VI, who would continue the papal residence in Avignon, a period that influenced the Catholic Church's authority and politics in Europe. The Avignon Papacy was crucial in shaping religious thought and the cultural landscape of the time, impacting poets and writers who navigated the complexities of faith and power.

The political and religious upheaval during the Avignon Papacy influenced poets like Dante Alighieri, who explored themes of divine justice and moral authority in his works. The shifting power dynamics and the Church's role in society provided rich material for literary exploration, as seen in the writings of Petrarch and others who grappled with the implications of papal authority on individual belief and artistic expression.