ABSTRACT
Pope John XXII's death deprived the crusade of an ardent proponent and a competent diplomat who had devoted significant resources and time to negotiations with the French Crown for the organization of a general crusade. On 20 December 1334, Jacques Fournier succeeded John XXII as Pope Benedict XII. Immediately after his elevation to the Holy See, Pope Benedict XII had to contend with two outstanding issues pertaining to the crusade in the Eastern Mediterranean. First, following the Christian victory at Adramyttion, the papacy had to participate in the continuation of the Christian league and the second phase of the anti-Turkish naval expedition. Second, Benedict had to address the advanced Franco-papal crusade negotiations for the organization of the general passage of Philip VI to the Holy Land. Despite Benedict XII's renewed commands to the secular clergy for the continuation of crusade preaching, the priesthood presumably never reached the level of enthusiasm and intensity it needed to conduct a successful campaign.
