Innocent was succeeded in the pontificate, to the surprise of all the world, by William Grimoard, abbot of St.Victor at Marseilles, who took the title of Urban V.The Cardinals chose him, though he was not of their Sacred College, from their jealousy lest a pope should be elected from the opposite party of their own body.

Petrarch rejoiced at his election, and ascribed it to the direct interference of Heaven.

De Sade says that the new Pope desired Petrarch to be the apostolic secretary, but that he was not to be tempted by a gilded chain.
About this time Petrarch received news of the death of Azzo Correggio, one of his dearest friends, whose widow and children wrote to him on this occasion, the latter telling him that they regarded him as a father.
Boccaccio came to Venice to see Petrarch in 1363, and their meeting was joyous.

They spent delightfully together the months of June, July, and August, 1363.

Boccaccio had not long left him, when, in the following year, our poet heard of the death of his friend Laelius, and his tears were still fresh for his loss, when he received another shock in being bereft of Simonides.