Pope Clement VI issues a papal bull protecting the Jews accused of having caused the Black Death.

Pope Clement VI

Head of the Catholic Church from 1342 to 1352

Pope Clement VI, born Pierre Roger, was head of the Catholic Church from 7 May 1342 to his death, in December 1352. He was the fourth Avignon pope. Clement reigned during the first visitation of the Black Death (1348–1350), during which he granted remission of sins to all who…

Papal bull

Type of decree by the Catholic pope

A papal bull is a type of public decree, letters patent, or charter issued by the pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the leaden seal (bulla) traditionally appended to authenticate it.

Antisemitism

Hostility, prejudice, or discrimination against Jews

Antisemitism or Jew-hatred is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who harbours it is called an anti-Semite. Whether antisemitism is considered a form of racism depends on the school of thought. Antisemitic tendencies may be motivated…

History of European Jews in the Middle Ages

History of European Jews in the Middle Ages covers Jewish history in Europe in the period from the 5th to the 15th century. During the course of this period, the Jewish population experienced a gradual diaspora shifting from their motherland of the Levant to Europe. These Jewish…

Black Death

1346–1353 pandemic in Eurasia and North Africa

The Black Death was a bubonic plague pandemic that occurred in Europe from 1346 to 1353. It was one of the most fatal pandemics in human history; as many as 50 million people perished, perhaps 50% of Europe's 14th century population. The disease is caused by the bacterium…