Quick Facts
Biography
Bernard de Castanet (c. 1240 – 14 August 1317) was the bishop and cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.
Castenet was not a Dominican, though he had an excellent relationship with the order of the Preachers. He was Inquisitor of Languedoc and Vice-Inquisitor of France.
Early life
Castanet was born in Montpellier and obtained a law degree from the University of Montpellier. He conducted diplomacy for the Church in Italy and Germany.
Bishop of Albi
Castanet was appointed the Bishop of Albi (1276 to 1308). In this post, Castenet engaged in a power struggle with the local landowners. He used accusations of heresy and the inquisition to control and punish those who opposed his right to arrest any citizen in the diocese and other political power prerogatives he held.
In 1287 Castanet ordered the start of construction on a new fortress-like cathedral at Albi.
In 1307, he was accused of murder, pastoral neglect, simony, cruelty in the exercise of justice. No sentence was issued, but he was transferred to become the Bishop of Le Puy-en-Velay.
Later life
Pope John XXII, an old friend, made Castanet a cardinal on 17 December 1316 and he joined the papal curia. In Avignon, he wrote the initial indictment of Bernard Délicieux.