King Philip IV owed the Templars money. Pope Clement V cut a deal with Philip and the Templars died as a result. The Catholic Encyclopedia which blames certain nobles in Philip’s court for the Pope’s condemnation of the Templars is going to have to be re-written to blame the Pope as co-conspirator for the murder of the Templars and the theft of their property.
I don’t think so.
As for Clement, he "was a hostage in French territory" on the eve of what historians would call the Avignon period of popes, Frale said.
I think King Philip would have a certain influence with a Pope which was basically his prisoner.