Course:Carey HIST501/Project 3/Innocent II

Year of birth and death of Pope Innocent II

Roman name: Gregorio Papareschi
Born: In Italy, 11th century, exact date unknown
Death: 24 September 1143 of natural causes. The church buried him in Trastevere, Rome in the Basilica of Our Lady.

a. Upbringing

Little is known about Innocent’s upbringing, although his parents were Roman. He's from a Roman of patrician family ^[1], probably of rione (a Roman district) Trastevere

b. Education

c. Journey of Faith

d. Influential person(s)

Antipope Clement III (Guibert of Ravenna): He was probably one of the clergy in personal attendance on Antipope Clement III.^[2]
- May be in exile with the antipope at one time
Pope Urban II: Made Papareschi a cardinal deacon in 1088.^[2]
Pope Callixtus II: Selected him for some tough missions like:
- Conclusion of the Concordat of Worms^[2]
- Peace accord made with Holy Roman Emperor Henry V in 1122^[2]
- Made peace with King Louis VI of France in 1123^[2]
Papal chancellor Haimeric: Led a commission of eight , which hastily elected Gregorio Papareschi as Pope Innocent II.

e. Vocational path

Served as a clergy attended to Antipope Clement III.
Cardinal deacon in 1088.
A cardinal by 1116^[3]
Appointed in 1122 by Pope Calixtus II as ambassador (one of them) who drafted the Concordat of Worms
In 1123 Gregorio became papal emissary in France. ^[3]
On the night of Pope Honorius II’s death (Feb. 13, 1130), a minority elected Gregorio (who took the name of Innocent II), while a majority soon after elected Cardinal Pietro Pierleoni as Anacletus II. Innocent was hastily consecrated, but by June 1130 Anacletus forced him to flee to France. ^[3]
- Because his election to the papacy proved to be controversial, the initial eight years of his pontificate suffered from the struggle to overcome his arch-rival Anacletus II the antipope.^[4]
- His subsequent success in achieving the recognition of nearly all of the Western church outside of Italy allowed the Catholic Church to decide that he was the legitimate pope.^[4]
- With Innocent’s meeting of King Lothair in March of 1131 A.D., he gained crucial German military support of his claim against Anacletus.^[4]
Served as the pontiff and temporal ruler of the Papal States from his coronation on February 14, 1130 A.D. until he died in the year 1143 A.D. ^[4]

f. Association with famous historical event(s) and/or council(s)

1122AD: Concordat of Worms
- Pope Calixtus II sent Innocent as a representative.
- Their agreement brought closure to the long-running argument between Holy Roman Emperor Henry V and the papacy over who had the right to install the clergy and bishops.^[4]
Council of Sens (1140)
- Supported Bernard’s prosecution of the theologian-philosopher Abbot Peter Abélard and his supporter, Arnold of Brescia, by condemning them as heretics. ^[3]
Confirmed the rule and customs of the Templars, one of the three orders of knighthood founded during the Crusades. ^[3]
Headed the Second Lateran Council.
- Outlawed the deployment of weapons including crossbows, bows, and slings against fellow Christians. ^[2]

a. Impact on doctrinal development

The doctrinal questions which he was called on to decide were those that condemned the opinions of Pierre Abélard and of Arnold of Brescia. ^[2]
- Pierre Abelard: One of his opinions, as an example, "professed the innocence of a woman who commits a sin out of love."^[5]

b. Impact on church polity

Fought for church independence when the Romans established a commune with a senate free from papal authority. ^[3]

c. Impact on church-state relations

Placed France under the interdict—a denial of the sacraments—when King Louis VII of France refused to accept the papal choice for archbishop of Bourges. ^[3]
A key moment of Innocent’s rule occurred as he crowned King Lothair the Holy Roman Emperor in 1132AD.^[4]
King Roger II of Sicily for supporting Anacletus
- Pope Innocent II excommunicated King Roger.
- Roger’s forces captured Innocent II and force him to recognize Roger II as king of Sicily.
  - Sign the Treaty of Mignano.
- Peace came when the two parties acknowledged each others’ titles in 1139 A.D.

d. Impact on pastoral ministry and ethics

Outlawed the deployment of weapons including crossbows, bows, and slings against fellow Christians. ^[2]

e. Major works and important papal policy written

Pope Innocent II mandated that the military and religious order of the Knights Templar would only have to answer to the pope in the future. ^[2]

Short-term impact:
- Condemnation of Pierre Abélard and of Arnold of Brescia for their heretic teachings/thoughts. ^[2]
- Outlawed the deployment of weapons including crossbows, bows, and slings against fellow Christians.^[2]
- Confirmed the rule and customs of the Templars, one of the three orders of knighthood founded during the Crusades.^[3]
  - This was a keystone in the Templars' ever increasing power and wealth, and ironically helped to bring about their violent suppression in October 1307.^[2]