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Pope Innocent IV
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Pope Innocent IV (c. 1185-1254), whose pontificate extended from June 25, 1243, to December 7, 1254, is chiefly remembered for his disputes with Emperor Frederick II and as the author of a commentary on the decretals of Pope Gregory IX.
Early Life
Born Sinibaldo dei Fieschi in Genoa, Italy, sometime between 1180 and 1190, Pope Innocent IV was a member of a powerful Italian noble family. Innocent IV's father, Hugh, the count of Lavagna, received the Fieschi name for his service to the emperor as controller of fiscal affairs. A nephew of Innocent IV would become Pope Adrian V in 1276.
Innocent studied law in Parma, where his uncle was a bishop. Innocent continued his studies in Bologna, and later references to him by Pope Honorius III suggest that he may have earned a law degree in that city. Innocent may also have taught in Bologna, but no definite evidence of that has been uncovered. Further speculation is that Innocent began work on the Decretals of Gregory IX while he was at Bologna.
In 1226 the future pope left school to become an auditor of the papal Curia. After Gregory IX became pope, Innocent was appointed vice-chancellor of the Roman church in 1227, and soon thereafter he became a cardinal. In 1234, Gregory appointed Innocent governor of the March, in the Papal States. But Innocent apparently remained in Rome during his governorship, because his signature appears on many papal letters from that time. In 1235 he was named Bishop of Albenga and legate of Northern Italy.
Elevated to Papacy
While Innocent was working in the Curia, relations between the emperor and the pope began to disintegrate. By 1238, Emperor Frederick II had begun claiming sovereignty over central Italy and even Rome. In response, the pope called a general council. Frederick seized two cardinals who were on their way to Rome to attend the council and held them captive on an island off the coast of Tuscany.
Pope Gregory IX died in 1241, and the College of Cardinals immediately convened to elect a new pope. But the new pope, Celestine IV, died after a reign of only fifteen days. Meanwhile, the two cardinals were still held prisoner by the emperor, and Frederick was excommunicated. The College of Cardinals could not agree on how to deal with the emperor, and the papacy remained vacant for nearly 18 months until June 1243, when the cardinals elected Innocent pope. On his elevation, Innocent took the name Innocent IV.
Prior to being elected pope, Innocent IV had been a friend of Frederick II, and the emperor sent messengers to Rome with congratulations and peace overtures. But Innocent refused to receive the messengers.
Negotiations with Frederick
Two months after his investiture, Innocent sent two legates to try to convince Frederick to release the two cardinals. He also asked his legates to find out what compensation Frederick was prepared to make for the harm he had caused the Church. If Frederick denied any wrongdoing, the legates were instructed to propose settling the matter before a council of kings, prelates, and secular princes. On March 31, 1244, Frederick promised to accede to most of the demands of the Curia, including restoration of the Papal States, release of the cardinals, and the granting of amnesty to allies of the pope. The apparent restoration of peace could not have been more timely - the Mongols were threatening Eastern Europe and in 1244 the Muslims captured Jerusalem.
But peace remained elusive. Frederick was slow to honor his promises, and he still refused to release the cardinals. He also secretly incited civil disorder in Rome. About the time that a formal signing of the negotiated treaty between Frederick and the Church was scheduled, Innocent, mistrusting his adversary, fled Italy.
Exile in Lyons
The pope initially traveled to Sutri, Italy, and then made his way in disguise over the mountains to Civiavecchia, where a fleet was waiting to take him to Genoa. By October 1244, he was in Burgundy, and by December he had reached Lyons, France.
Upon arriving in Lyons, Innocent called a general council, the 13th ecumenical, which was convened in 1245. Although Lyons was within Frederick's empire, the pope enjoyed the protection of the French king there, so was not threatened by Frederick. Lyons also was easily accessible to many prelates without risking capture by Frederick.
First Council of Lyons
At the opening of the general council on June 26, 1245, Innocent outlined his agenda, which far exceeded his concerns about Frederick. Besides his problems with the emperor, he also hoped to address problems with the clergy and difficulties with the Muslims. When the meeting opened, three patriarchs and about 150 bishops were in attendance. Also present was the Latin emperor of Constantinople. But many church leaders had been prevented from attending either by the invasions of the Tartars in the east, the Muslim incursions in Jerusalem, or intimidation by Frederick.
Innocent was particularly concerned with the Tartars, and he sent a papal envoy to the ruler of the Mongol empire. By this time, Innocent had ruled that the pope held authority over non-Christians and could punish them if they violated the laws of nature. Innocent also decreed that non-Christians were obligated to permit Christian missionaries to visit them. If they refused, Innocent believed that the pope could call for a war against them. Innocent's policy would influence future missionary endeavors by the Church for centuries to come.
Shortly before the Council at Lyons convened, Innocent once again excommunicated Frederick. During the council, he summoned Frederick to Lyons. The emperor did not show up, but instead sent his legate Thaddeus of Suessa. Although Thaddeus argued strongly in defense of Frederick, the council nevertheless ordered the emperor deposed, calling for the German princes to elect a new emperor. Some of the princes responded, and Henry Raspe, Landgrave of Thuringia, was elected emperor. When Frederick heard of his deposition, he reportedly placed a crown on his head and challenged the pope to knock it off.
But Henry died shortly thereafter, and the princes elected William, the Count of Holland, in his place. But most of the princes had abstained from voting and neither Henry nor William received wide recognition. They were too weak to challenge Frederick's son and ally, Conrad.
Innocent attempted to mount a crusade against Frederick, but his ally King Louis IX of France, the only monarch powerful enough to confront Frederick, was unwilling to sign up for such an undertaking. Instead, the French king attempted to mediate a settlement.
Last Acts
In 1248 Innocent renewed Frederick's excommunication. With Frederick's death at the end of 1250, Innocent was once again in a position to exert his authority in central Italy. Innocent set out for Rome from Lyons on April 19, 1251, arriving there in October 1253.
Following Frederick's death, Innocent campaigned for the deposition of his heirs. Innocent offered the crown of Sicily, which he controlled, to Richard of Cornwall and later to Charles of Anjou. But since Conrad's half brother Manfred still held power in Sicily, there were no takers. After Manfred submitted to the papacy, Innocent made his way into Naples in 1254. But Manfred revolted and defeated the papal army at Foggia.
Legacy
Innocent's commentary on the Decretals of Gregory IX was cited by almost every jurist from his contemporaries to those of the seventeenth century. Innocent is also remembered for his commentary of the First Council of Lyon.
Following precedents set by Innocent III, Innocent IV extended papal authority in the church and over secular matters. Innocent IV held that the pope could chose between two imperial candidates, depose an emperor, and exercise imperial authority when the throne was empty. As noted, although he permitted non-Christian rulers to hold power, he held that those rulers must permit Christian missionaries to proselytize in their countries.
Innocent IV believed that since Christ had the power to depose emperors, the pope held the same authority as the vicar of Christ. Innocent IV attempted to exert his influence over several potentates besides Frederick. In England, he extended his protection to Henry III against the lay and church nobility. In Austria, he confirmed the son of King Wenzel as duke and later mediated between him and the king of Hungary. In Portugal, he appointed Alfonso III as administrator of the kingdom.
His continual fighting with Frederick led to the neglect of the internal affairs of the Church, thus Italy was left desolate. Taxation by the Church increased, which prompted loud complaints from the populace. Church abuses were overlooked as the pope remained preoccupied with his struggle with the emperor.
Innocent IV, severely ill with pleurisy, died in Naples on December 7, 1254, and was buried in a tomb at the Basilica of Santa Restituta in Naples.
Books
Brecher, Joseph S., Popes Through the Ages, Neff-Kane, 1980.
Online
"First Council of Lyons (1245)," Eternal Word Television Network,http://www.ewtn.com/library/COUNCILS/LYONS1.HTM (February 2003).
Pennington, Kenneth, "Innocent IV, Pope," http://faculty.cua.edu/pennington/Medieval%20Papacy/InnocentIV.htm (February 2003).
"Pope Innocent IV," Catholic Forum,http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/pope0180.htm (February 2003).
"Pope Innocent IV," New Advent,http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08017a.htm (February 2003).
| Columbia Encyclopedia: Innocent IV |
Innocent IV, d. 1254, pope (1243-54), a Genoese named Sinibaldo Fieschi, a distinguished jurist who studied and later taught law at the Univ. of Bologna; successor of Celestine IV. He was of a noble family. Although he had been regarded as sympathetic to the empire, once pope he quickly took up the papal struggle with Frederick II and the Hohenstaufen. After a futile treaty he felt unsafe in Rome and fled to Lyons, where he convened the Council of Lyons (1245; see Lyons, First Council of). Frederick was condemned again and declared deposed, and Innocent supported Henry Raspe and, later, William II of Holland as pretenders to the imperium. He also tried to get an English or French prince to take Sicily as a fief, but Frederick was too strong. Frederick died as the pope was opening a crusade against him (1250). Innocent did not spare the other Hohenstaufen, Conrad IV and Manfred, but after finding them invincible in Sicily, he recognized Conradin as king of Sicily. Innocent was almost wholly occupied with his quarrel with the Hohenstaufen, and the taxes he levied to continue it made him unpopular with clergy and laity alike. He was succeeded by Alexander IV.
| Wikipedia: Pope Innocent IV |
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| Innocent IV | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Papacy began | June 28, 1243 |
| Papacy ended | December 7, 1254 |
| Predecessor | Celestine IV |
| Successor | Alexander IV |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Sinibaldo Fieschi |
| Born | c. 1195 Genoa or Manarola, Republic of Genoa, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | December 7, 1254 Naples, Kingdom of Sicily |
| Other Popes named Innocent | |
Pope Innocent IV, born Sinibaldo Fieschi, was pope from June 28, 1243, to December 7, 1254.
Contents |
Early life
Born in Genoa (although some sources say Manarola) in an unknown year the boy, Sinibaldo, belonged to the noble family of Liguria, the Fieschi, Counts of Lavagna. Sinibaldo received his education at the universities of Parma and Bologna and, for a time, taught canon law at Bologna. He was considered one of the best canonists of his time and was called to serve the Pope in the Roman Curia in the year 1226.
Bishop and Cardinal
Before his elevation to the papacy Sinibaldo was Vice-Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church (1226-1227), being created Cardinal Priest of San Lorenzo in Lucina on (September 18, 1227) by Pope Gregory IX, later serving as governor of the March of Ancona (1235 until 1240).
It is widely repeated from the 17th century on that he became bishop of Albenga in 1235, but this information is without foundation[1].
His immediate predecessor was Pope Celestine IV, elected October 25, 1241, whose reign lasted a mere fifteen days. The events of Innocent IV's pontificate are therefore inextricably linked to the policies dominating the reigns of popes Innocent III (1198-1216), Honorius III (1216-1227). and Gregory IX (1227-1241).
Gregory had been demanding the return of portions of the Papal States taken over by the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II (Hohenstauffen), when he died. The Pope had called a general council so he could depose the emperor with the support of Europe's spiritual leaders but Frederick had seized two cardinals traveling to the council in hopes of intimidating the other council fathers. The two prelates remained incarcerated, missing the conclave which had immediately elected Celestine. The conclave reconvening after his death fell into camps supporting contradictory policies about how to treat with the emperor.
New pope, same emperor
After a year and a half of contentious debate, arm twisting, and hand wringing, the conclave reached a unanimous decision. Cardinal de' Fieschi very reluctantly accepted election, taking the name Innocent IV (June 25, 1243). As Cardinal de' Fieschi, Sinibaldo had been on friendly terms with Frederick, even after his excommunication. The Emperor also greatly admired the cardinal's wisdom, having enjoyed discussions with him from time to time.
Following the election the always witty Frederick remarked that he had lost the friendship of a cardinal but made up for it by gaining the enmity of a pope.
His jest notwithstanding, Frederick's letter to the new pontiff was couched in respectful terms, offering Innocent congratulations and success, also expressing hope for an amicable settlement of the differences between the empire and the papacy. Negotiations leading to this objective began shortly afterwards but proved abortive. Innocent refused to back down from his demands, Frederick II refused to acquiesce, and the dispute continued, its major point of contention being the reinstatement of Lombardy to the Patrimony of St Peter.
The Emperor's machinations caused a good deal of anti-papal feeling to rise in Italy, particularly in the Papal States and imperial agents encouraged plots against papal rule. Realizing how untenable his position in Rome was growing Innocent IV secretly but hurriedly withdrew to Genoa, his birthplace, in the summer of 1244. Traveling in disguise Innocent made his way to Sutri and Civitavecchia, thence to France where the Pontiff was joyously welcomed. Making his way to Lyons Innocent was happily greeted by rulers of the city.
Finding himself now in secure surroundings Innocent summoned as many bishops as could get to Lyons to attend what became the 13th General (Ecumenical) Council of the Church, the first in Lyons. The bishops met for three public sessions, June 28, July 5, and July 17 in 1245. Their business was to put Frederick in his place.
Council of Lyons
This gathering had the fewest participants of any General Council before it. However three patriarchs and the Latin emperor of Constantinople attended, along with 150 or so bishops, most of them prelates from France and Spain. They were able to come quickly and Innocent could rely on their help. Bishops from the rest of Europe outside Spain and France feared retribution from Frederick while many other bishops were prevented from attending either by the invasions of the Tartars in the Far East and Muslim incursions in the Middle East.
In session Frederick II's position was defended by Taddeo of Suessa who renewed in his master's name all the promises made so many times before, but refused to give the guarantees the pope demanded. Unable to end the impassse Taddeo was horrified to hear the fathers of the Council solemmly depose and excommunicate the Emperor on July 17, while absolving all his subjects from allegiance to the Hohenstauffen. The political agitation over these acts convulsed Europe. The turmoil relaxed only with Frederick's death in December 1250, removing the proximate threat to Innocent's life and thus permitting his triumphant return to Italy. From 1251-1253 the Pope stayed at Perugia until it was safe for him to finally bring the papal court back to Rome.
Ruler of princes and kings
As had Innocent III before him, Innocent IV saw himself as the Vice-regent of the Almighty, Whose power was above earthly kings. Innocent, therefore, saw no problem intervening in purely secular matters. He appointed Alfonso III administrator of Portugal, and lent his protection to Ottocar, the son of the King of Austria. The Pope even sided with King Henry III against both nobles and bishops of England, despite the king's harassment of St Edmund Rich and his policy of having church money collected in vacant benefices delivered to the royal coffers.
The warlike tendencies of the Tartars also concerned the Pope and he send a papal nuncio to the Mongol Empire in an attempt to strike an agreement. Innocent decreed that he, as Vicar of Christ, could make non-Christians accept his dominion and even exact punishment should they violate the non-God centered commands of the Ten Commandments. This policy was held more in theory than in practice and was eventually repudiated centuries later.
Vicar of Christ
The papal preoccupation with imperial matters and secular princes caused the spirituality of the Church to suffer. Papal taxation increased in the Papal States and the complaints of the inhabitants grew loud and hot.
This is not to say that the Pope, himself, the Vicar of Christ on earth, neglected the Faith. He celebrated Mass daily and devoutly. In August 1253, after much worry about the order's insistence on absolute poverty, Innocent finally approved the rule of the 2nd Order of the Franciscans, the Poor Clares, founded by St Clare of Assisi, the great friend of St Francs.
In 1246 Edmund Rich, former Archbishop of Canterbury (died 1240), was named a saint. In 1250 Innocent proclaimed the pious Queen Margaret of Edinburgh (died 1093) wife of the Scottish king, Malcolm III, a saint of God. Dominican priest, Peter of Verona, martyred by Albigensian heretics in 1252 was raised to the altars, as was Stanislau, the great Polish Archbishop of Cracow, both in 1253.
Diplomatic relations
Relations with the Portuguese
Innocent IV was responsible for the eventual deposition of Sancho II, at the request of his brother Afonso (later Afonso III, fifth King of Portugal). One of the arguments he used against Sancho II in his Grandi non immerito text was his status as a minor upon inheriting the throne from his father Afonso II. (H. Fernandes, 2006, p. 82)
Contacts with the Mongols
In 1245, Innocent IV issued bulls and sent an envoy in the person of Giovanni da Pian del Carpine (accompanied by Benedict the Pole) to the "Emperor of the Tartars". The message asked the Mongol ruler to become a Christian and stop his aggression against Europe. The Khan Güyük replied in 1246 a letter written in Persian that still rests in the Vatican Library, demanding the submission of the Pope and the other rulers of Europe.[2]
In 1245 Innocent had sent another mission, through another route, led by Ascelin of Lombardia, also bearing letters. The mission met with the Mongol ruler Baichu near the Caspian Sea in 1247. The reply of Baichu was in accordance with that of Güyük, but it was accompanied by two Mongolian envoys to the Papal seat in Lyon, Aïbeg and Serkis. They met with Innocent IV in 1248, who again appealed to the Mongols to stop their killing of Christians.[2]
Innocent IV would also send other missions to the Mongols in 1245: the mission of André de Longjumeau, the possibly aborted mission of Laurent de Portugal, and mission of Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, which left on April 16, 1245 and would reach the Mongol capital Karakorum.[3]
Later life and death
The remainder of his life was largely directed to schemes for compassing the overthrow of Manfred, the natural son of Frederick II, whom the towns and the nobility had for the most part received as his father's successor. Innocent aimed to incorporate the whole Kingdom of Sicily into the Papal States, but he lacked the necessary economical and political power. Therefore, after a failed agreement with Charles of Anjou, he invested that kingdom to Edmund, the nine year old son of Henry III of England (May 14, 1254).
In the same year he excommunicated Frederick II's other son, Conrad IV, King of Germany, but the latter died a few days after the investiture of Edmund. Innocent therefore moved to Anagni to wait for Manfred's reaction to the event, especially as Conrad's heir, Conradin, had been entrusted to the Papal tutorage by the King's testament. Manfred submitted, although probably only to gain time and counter the menace from Edmund, and received the title of Papal vicar for southern Italy. Innocent could therefore live a period in which he was the effective sovereign of most of the peninsula, and on October 27, 1254 he celebrated the feat by entering the city of Naples.
However, Manfred had not lost his time and organized a resistance, supported by his faithful Saracen troops, setting riots against the new authority. It was on a sick bed at Naples that Innocent IV heard of Manfred's victory at Foggia against the Papal forces: the tidings are said to have precipitated his death on December 7, 1254, in Naples.
His learning gave to the world an Apparatus in quinque libros decretalium. He is also remembered for issuing the papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorized the use of torture by the Inquisition for eliciting confessions from heretics.
He was succeeded by Pope Alexander IV (1254-61). Innocent was also the uncle of Adrian V (1276).
Notes
- ^ According to Paravicini Bagliani, p. 64-65, his alleged episcopate in Albenga is not attested in any of the contemporary sources and adds that the see of Albenga was occupied by Simon from 1230 until 1255.
- ^ a b David Wilkinson, Studying the History of Intercivilizational Dialogues
- ^ Roux, p.312-313
References
 |
Wikisource has original works written by or about: Pope Innocent IV |
- Original text from the 9th edition (1880) of an unnamed encyclopedia.
- Rendina, Claudio (1983). I papi. Storia e segreti. Rome: Newton Compton.
- Melloni, Alberto, Innocenzo IV: la concezione e l'esperienza della cristianità come regimen unius personae, Genova : Marietti, 1990.
- Paravicini Bagliani, Agostino, Cardinali di curia e "familiae" cardinalizie. Dal 1227 al 1254, Padova 1972
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| Preceded by Celestine IV |
Pope 1243–54 |
Succeeded by Alexander IV |
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