The Avignon Papacy refers to a period from 1309 to 1377 when seven successive popes resided in Avignon, France, instead of Rome. This shift began when Pope Clement V moved the papal court to Avignon, largely due to political pressures and conflicts in Italy. During this time, the papacy became closely tied to the French crown, leading to tensions with other European nations. The Avignon Papacy ended when Pope Gregory XI returned the papacy to Rome in 1377. However, the period left a lasting impact on the Catholic Church, contributing to the Western Schism, where multiple claimants to the papacy emerged, causing further division within Christianity.