he was a friend and advisor of the future avignon pope benedict xiii, and member of the avignon curia. in 1396 he was an envoy to the bishop of valencia to get spanish support. benedict had appointed four cardinals, and on his death, three of them, on 10 june 1423, elected sanchez muñoz as pope. the fourth, jean carrier, absent at the time, declared the election invalid, and elected his own antipope in turn, who took the name benedict xiv. consequently, jean carrier was excommunicated by clement viii.