The cession of Avignon from the Papal States to Revolutionary France represented a critical moment in the turbulent history of late 18th-century Europe. Avignon had been under papal authority since the 1309-1377 period, during which seven successive Popes resided there due to political turmoil in Rome. The city's status had evolved over centuries, becoming a spiritual and administrative center of the Church. However, as revolutionary sentiments swept through France in the late 18th century, the authority and territorial claims of the Papacy faced increasing challenges.

In the context of the French Revolution, which began in 1789, there was a growing movement to diminish the power of the monarchy and the Church. The leaders of the revolution believed in establishing a secular state that was free from papal influence and the hierarchies that had dominated governance and society. The annexation of Avignon was part of a broader initiative to assert national sovereignty and unify France, built upon principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The formal act of cession took place on September 14, 1791, reflecting this ideological struggle.

This act not only denoted a significant territorial shift but also had profound implications for the relationship between the French state and the Papacy, marking the beginning of a long-standing conflict. The loss of Avignon was perceived as a loss of papal authority and territorial reach, which contributed to the decline of the Papal States' influence in European politics. The revolutionary government continued to implement reforms that secularized authority and property previously held by the Church throughout the French territory. This shift had repercussions not just in France, but also in how the Catholic Church interacted with emerging nation-states across Europe.