# Innocent II

> Pope of the Catholic Church (1130–1143)

**Wikidata**: [Q170386](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q170386)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Innocent_II)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/innocent-ii

## Summary

Pope Innocent II (born Gregorio Papareschi) was the head of the Catholic Church from 1130 to 1143. He served as pope during a tumultuous period in medieval Europe, navigating complex political and ecclesiastical challenges while leading the Roman Catholic Church through nearly fourteen years of his pontificate.

## Biography

- **Born:** Approximately 1100 (date specified as +1100-00-00T00:00:00Z)
- **Died:** September 24, 1143
- **Nationality:** Italian (based on Papareschi family origin from Rome)
- **Birth Name:** Gregorio Papareschi
- **Education:** Presumably clerical education typical of Roman nobility in the early 12th century
- **Known for:** Serving as Pope of the Catholic Church during the period 1130-1143; navigating the papal schism following the death of Pope Honorius II
- **Employer(s):** Holy See (Roman Catholic Church)
- **Field(s):** Religious leadership, Catholic Church governance, Medieval European politics

## Contributions

Pope Innocent II's pontificate (1130-1143) was marked by several significant events and achievements:

1. **Papal Election and Schism Resolution**: Following the death of Pope Honorius II in 1130, Innocent II was elected pope but faced a rival claimant, Anacletus II, creating a papal schism that lasted until 1138 when Anacletus died.

2. **Second Lateran Council (1139)**: Convened the Fourth Lateran Council (also known as the Second Lateran Council) in 1139, which addressed various ecclesiastical reforms and clarified church doctrine.

3. **Support for Religious Orders**: Supported the growth of monastic reforms and the Cistercian order under Saint Bernard of Clairvaux.

4. **Political Diplomacy**: Engaged with European monarchs and navigated the complex political landscape of medieval Italy and the Holy Roman Empire.

5. **Tomb Location**: Buried at Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome, where his tomb remains a significant historical monument.

## FAQs

**When did Pope Innocent II serve as pope?**
Pope Innocent II served as the head of the Catholic Church from 1130 until his death in 1143, a pontificate lasting nearly fourteen years.

**What was Pope Innocent II's birth name?**
Pope Innocent II was born Gregorio Papareschi, belonging to the Papareschi family of Roman nobility.

**Where is Pope Innocent II buried?**
Pope Innocent II is buried at the Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome, Italy.

**What major challenge did Pope Innocent II face during his papacy?**
Upon his election in 1130, Pope Innocent II faced a papal schism led by rival claimant Anacletus II, which lasted until Anacletus's death in 1138.

**What council did Pope Innocent II convene?**
Pope Innocent II convened the Second Lateran Council (Fourth Lateran Council) in 1139, which addressed important ecclesiastical reforms and church governance matters.

## Why They Matter

Pope Innocent II's significance in Catholic Church history stems from his successful navigation of one of the most challenging papal schisms of the 12th century. His ability to maintain papal authority despite facing a rival claimant demonstrated the resilience of the papal office during times of internal crisis. The Second Lateran Council he convened in 1139 contributed to ecclesiastical reforms that shaped church governance for centuries to come. His diplomatic relationships with European monarchs helped establish precedents for the relationship between the papacy and secular rulers during the medieval period. The resolution of the schism under his leadership ultimately strengthened the authority of the papacy and set the stage for the later height of papal power in the 12th and 13th centuries.

## Notable For

- Successfully resolving the papal schism of 1130-1138 against Anacletus II
- Convening the Second Lateran Council in 1139
- Being a member of the Roman Papareschi family (noted in source with identifier 1088:Papareschi)
- His tomb at Santa Maria in Trastevere remaining as a significant historical monument
- Serving as pope during a formative period of medieval European religious and political development

## Body

### Early Life and Background

Pope Innocent II was born Gregorio Papareschi around the year 1100, belonging to the Papareschi family, a noble family in Rome. The Papareschi family was among the prominent Roman families that produced several cardinals and church officials during the 12th century. Nothing specific is recorded in the provided source material about his early education, but it is reasonable to assume he received the typical clerical education reserved for sons of the Roman nobility destined for ecclesiastical service.

### Rise to the Papacy

Gregorio Papareschi was elected Pope Innocent II following the death of Pope Honorius II in 1130. However, his election was contested by Cardinal Pierleoni, who took the name Anacletus II, creating a significant schism within the Catholic Church. This schism would dominate the early years of Innocent II's pontificate and require substantial diplomatic and political effort to resolve.

### The Papal Schism (1130-1138)

The schism with Anacletus II represented one of the most serious divisions in the history of the papacy during the 12th century. Anacletus II had the support of a significant portion of the Roman clergy and nobility, while Innocent II was recognized by most of the major European monarchs of the time, including King Henry I of England and Emperor Lothair II. The schism lasted until 1138 when Anacletus II died, allowing Innocent II to consolidate his authority as the undisputed pope.

### Second Lateran Council (1139)

One of the major achievements of Pope Innocent II's pontificate was the convening of the Second Lateran Council in 1139. This ecumenical council addressed numerous issues facing the Church, including clerical discipline, the validity of sacraments performed by schismatic clergy, and various matters of church governance. The council's decrees helped clarify church doctrine and strengthen ecclesiastical authority during a period of recovery from the schism.

### Relationships with Secular Rulers

Throughout his papacy, Innocent II maintained complex diplomatic relationships with various European monarchs and political leaders. His recognition by King Henry I of England and his engagement with Emperor Lothair II were crucial to his ultimate victory over the schismatic claimant. These relationships established important precedents for the interaction between the papacy and secular political powers during the medieval period.

### Death and Legacy

Pope Innocent II died on September 24, 1143. He was buried at the Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome, where his tomb remains an important historical and religious site. His tomb (noted in source material with identifier Tomb of Innocentius II in Santa Maria in Trastevere) continues to be a destination for pilgrims and historians interested in the history of the papacy.

### Historical Significance

Pope Innocent II's pontificate represented a critical period in the development of papal authority and the institutional structure of the Catholic Church. His successful resolution of the schism demonstrated the resilience of the papal office and established important precedents for handling internal church disputes. The reforms initiated during his papacy, particularly those promulgated at the Second Lateran Council, contributed to the strengthening of ecclesiastical discipline and the consolidation of papal authority that would characterize the high medieval period of church history.

### Identifiers and Catalog References

The provided source material includes numerous library and archive identifiers for Pope Innocent II, reflecting his significance in historical and religious research:

- Wikidata ID: Q1299036
- VIAF: 316407516
- LCCN: nr95046861
- ISBN: 11871077X
- Various national library identifiers from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and other countries
- Commons category: Innocentius II
- Multiple image files documenting his life and tomb

These identifiers demonstrate the ongoing historical and scholarly interest in Pope Innocent II and his contributions to Catholic Church history.

## References

1. BeWeB
2. Integrated Authority File
3. Catholic-Hierarchy.org
4. Mirabile: Digital Archives for Medieval Culture
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. Enciclopedia dei Papi
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. Czech National Authority Database
10. [Source](http://catalogo.pusc.it/cgi-bin/koha/opac-authoritiesdetail.pl?authid=39356)
11. CONOR.SI
12. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani
13. Library of Congress Control Number
14. Enciclopedia Treccani
15. Dizionario di Storia
16. FactGrid
17. HMML Authority File