GREGORY XI. (Pierre Roger de Beaufort), pope from Dec. 3o, 13 7o, to March 2 7, 13 78, born in Limousin in 133o, was created cardinal-deacon of Sta. Maria Nuova by his uncle, Clement VI. His efforts to establish peace between France and England and to aid the Eastern Christians against the Turks were fruitless. He introduced many reforms in the monastic orders and vigorously opposed heresy. He consulted Catherine of Siena, to whom the transference of the papal see back to Italy (Jan. 17, 1377) was almost entirely due. He issued several bulls to the archbishop of Canterbury, the king of England, and the University of Oxford, commanding an investigation of Wycliffe's doctrines. Gregory was learned and full of zeal for the church, but irresolute and guilty of nepotism.
See H. J. Tomaseth, "Die Register u. Secretare Urbans V. u. Gregors XI." in Mitteilungen des Instituts fiir osterreichische Geschichtsforsch ung (1898) ; J. P. Kirsch, Die Riickkehr der Pdpste Urban V. u. Gregor XI. von Avignon nach Rom (Paderborn, 1898) ; J. B. Chris tophe, Histoire de la papaute pendant le XIVe siecle (vol. 2, 1853).