He was the first pope who resided in Rome since 1304, although only for a short time (1367 until the beginning of 1370, when he returned to Avignon).

Post of the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, the most important during sede vacante, was occupied by Arnaud Aubert,[3] archbishop of Auch and nephew of Pope Innocent VI (but not a Cardinal).

In the first ballot on the next day in the morning Cardinal Pierre Roger de Beaufort, nephew of Clement VI, protodeacon of the Sacred College, was unanimously elected Pope.

[4] He initially opposed his election but eventually accepted and took the name of Gregory XI.

On January 2, 1371, he was ordained to the priesthood, and on January 3 he was consecrated bishop of Rome by the dean of the College of Cardinals Guy de Boulogne, and crowned by the new protodeacon Rinaldo Orsini in the cathedral Notre Dame des Doms in Avignon.