retraction of his views on beatific vision. Cardinal Pierre Desprès was one of those who participated in the event. The Conclave to elect his successor began on 13 December 1334, with twenty-four cardinals, Pierre Desprès among them, in attendance. A majority of the cardinals had decided that they did not want to return the papacy to Rome, and that therefore they would not elect anyone who would not swear to keep the papacy in Avignon. There was a two-thirds majority of the cardinals who were prepared to vote for Cardinal Jean-Raymond de Comminges, the Bishop of Porto. He, however, had the strongest objections to the legality and propriety of taking such an oath. On the evening of 20 December a two-thirds majority finally settled on Cardinal Jacques Fournier, O.Cist., the cardinal protopriest. He was crowned as Pope Benedict XII on 8 January 1335. Cardinal Pierre Desprès assisted in the revision of the Statutes of the Franciscans. The revision was published by Pope Benedict XII on 28 November 1336. This was not the Cardinal's first experience with Franciscan statutes and discipline. He was present on 1 August 1331 along with seven other cardinals (one of whom was Jacques Fournier, the future Benedict XII), when Pope John XXII issued a viva voce precept to two of the ministers of the Franciscan Order that they should observe the Rule of St. Francis, as well as the Constitutions of Nicholas III and Clement V, on the use of money. Fr. Guiral Ot, Minister General of the Franciscans was present and acted as witness. Cardinal Desprès became Dean of the College of Cardinals following the death of Cardinal Guillaume Pierre Godin, OP, on 4 June 1336. In March 1342, the Cardinal consecrated William, Bishop of St. Andrews, in Scotland. Conclave of 1342 Pope Benedict XII died on 25 April 1342. Cardinal Desprès presided over the Conclave of 1342, though it cannot be said that he was a major force. Eighteen cardinals entered Conclave on Sunday, 5 May 1342, and produced a new Pope only two days later. The successful candidate was Cardinal Jacques Fournier of Limoges, former Chancellor of King Philip VI of France. He was fifty years of age. He was crowned on Pentecost Sunday, 19 May 1342, and took the throne name Clement VI. As early as 1324 Cardinal Desprès had the consent of Pope John XXII to establish a community of priests