Ever since the Colonna cardinals had turned against Pope Boniface VIII, the call for a general council had been in the air. For years the papacy had successfully stalled. But the arrest of the Templars in 1307 raised the stakes to a point at which the tactics of delay proved ineffective. In August 1308 Pope Clement V convoked a general council in the city of Vienne.

From Clement's point of view, the most important business at hand undoubtedly was to decide the fate of the Templars and to put an end to the damage stemming from the clash between Philip IV and Boniface VIII. But general councils were more than ad hoc assemblies convened to deal with specific short-term problems, however urgent: they provided an occasion to promote large-scale reform of the church as well. Hence Clement asked the prelates in his bull of convocation ‘carefully to investigate whatever requires honing through correction and reform, either in person or with the help of prudent men who fear God and who are well informed.