A reported reference to the Avignon Papacy during a closed-door Pentagon meeting has sparked debate amid tensions between Donald Trump's administration and the Vatican.
While the historical term may seem obscure, experts say it carries significant meaning in the context of Church-state relations.
The Avignon Papacy refers to a period between 1309 and 1377 when seven successive popes resided in Avignon, in present-day France, instead of Rome.
Historians often view this period as one in which the papacy's independence was weakened by political influence.
Analysts say invoking the Avignon Papacy in a modern diplomatic setting is unlikely to be accidental, symbolizing a time when religious authority appeared subordinate to political power.
