Pope John XXII (; 1244 – 4 December 1334), born Jacques Duèze (or d'Euse), was head of the Catholic Church from 7 August 1316 to his death in December 1334. He was the second and longest-reigning Avignon Pope, elected by the Conclave of Cardinals, which was assembled in Lyon through the work of King Louis X's brother Philip, the Count of Poitiers. Like his predecessor, Clement V, Pope John centralized power and income in the Papacy and lived a princely life in Avignon. John excommunicated the enemies of Edward II of England, while warning Edward of a possible reassessment of the papal grant of Ireland. He opposed the political policies of Louis IV of Bavaria as Holy Roman Emperor, which prompted Louis to invade Italy and set up an antipope, Nicholas V. John opposed the Franciscan understanding of the poverty of Christ and his apostles passing multiple papal bulls to enforce his views. This led William of Ockham to write against unlimited papal power. Following a three year process, John canonized Thomas Aquinas on 18 July 1323. After surviving an assassination attempt from poison and witchcraft, John passed a papal bull against witchcraft and threatened excommunication for anyone learning it. Facing backlash from his beatific vision sermons, John retracted his statement just before his death. John died in Avignon on 4 December 1334. Early life and election Born in 1244, Jacques was the son of Arnaud Duèze, who was probably a merchant or banker. He studied canon law at Montpellier and theology in Paris. Jacques taught civil law at Cahors and later canon at Toulouse. By 1295, he was counselor to the Bishop Louis of Toulouse. Following Louis' death in 1297, Jacques was installed as the temporary chancellor of the University of Avignon and by 1299 was canon of Puy. On the recommendation of Charles II of Naples he was made Bishop of Fréjus in 1300. Jacques was still bishop of Fréjus when in 1307, a knight named William d'Arcis and a priest named Bertrand Recordus attempted to kill him. Both were imprisoned and later sentenced to death in 1309. In 1308, Jacques was appointed chancellor of Charles II, and it was due to his influence that the gladiatorial games in Naples were banned. On 18 March 1310, he was made Bishop of Avignon. He delivered legal opinions favorable to the suppression of the Templars, but he also defended Boniface