Birthplace
Rome
Pope from
14 February 1130
Pope until
24 September 1143
Died
24 September 1143
Who he was
Gregorio, a Roman, was a canon of the Lateran and a cardinal who helped draw up the Concordat of Worms. He was elected by some of the cardinals on the morning after Honorius II died in 1130; hours later others chose Pietro Pierleone as Anacletus II, opening an eight-year schism.
What he is remembered for
Driven from Rome, he won the support of France, Germany and England with the help of St Bernard and St Norbert, crowned Lothair emperor in 1133 and outlasted his rival. He held the Second Lateran Council in 1139 to undo the effects of the schism, and that year received St Malachy of Armagh with great honour and made him papal legate for all Ireland.
Sources
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