1088 papal election

The 1088 papal election subsequent to the death of Pope Victor III in 1087 was held on 12 March 1088. Six cardinal-bishops, assisted by two lower-ranking cardinals, elected Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia Odon de Lagery as the new Pope. He assumed the name Urban II.

Background Pope Victor III died on 16 September 1087 at Montecassino. Shortly before his death he recommended the election of Cardinal Odon de Lagery as his successor.Watterich I, p. 570, quoting Petrus Diaconus, "Chronicon Casinense" III. 73. For six months, the Obedience of Victor III was without a pope. Rome at that time was under control of Antipope Clement III, who was supported by the Emperor Henry IV of Germany, and there was no hope for its quick recovery. In this situation the adherents of Victor III assembled on 9 March 1088 at Terracina, under the protection of the Norman army of Roger I of Sicily, to elect the new pope.Richard Zöpffel Die Papstwahlen und die mit ihnen im nächsten Zusammenhange stehenden Ceremonien (Göttingen 1871), pp. 25-26. Besides the cardinal-bishops, who nominated the candidate for election, there were present also at the electoral assembly in the cathedral of SS. Pietro e Cesareo the representatives of the two other orders of cardinals, more than 40 bishops and abbots, as well as Benedetto, prefect of Rome and Countess Matilda of Tuscany.Gregorovius IV. 1, pp. 268-269. Petrus Diaconus, "Chronicon Casiniense", in: Watterich I, pp. 574-575. Bishop Joannes of Tusculum arose in the midst of the crowded church, and addressed those assembled about the actions of Pope Gregory VII and Pope Victor III de ordinanda ecclesiae, and likewise about the reasons why they were gathered at that place at that time. Then Bishop Joannes of Porto and Benedict the Prefect of the City of Rome arose, and announced that they held powers from the clergy and from the laity of the city in this matter.Watterich, p. 575.

Election

The usual three days of fasting and prayer were proclaimed, and the meeting adjourned until Sunday 12 March. On that day the cardinals and the rest of the present churchmen and laymen reassembled in the same church. The bishops of Albano, Tusculum and Porto together proposed the election of Odon de Lagery (Odo de Châtillon), Bishop of Ostia, who had been designated by Victor III.Watterich I, pp. 575-576: "Dominica itaque die [March 12], valde mane, omnes iterum in eadem ecclesia congregati, cum inter se pariter nonnulla de re huiuscemodi tractavissent, exurgentes tres cardinales episcopi, qui caput eiusdem concilii erant, Portuensis scilicet, Tusculanensis et Albanensis ambonem ascenderunt factoque silentio uno simul ore pronuntiant, Ottonem episcopum placere sibi in Romanum Pontificem eligendum. Cumque utrum omnibus idem quoque placeret, sicut est consuetudo, requirerent, repente mirabili ac summa concordia omnes magna voce, hoc sibi placere dignumque illum universi conclamant apostolicae sedis Papam existere." Cardinal Rainerius assented on behalf of the other cardinal-priests.Rainerius was the only cardinal-priest present. Oderisius of Montecassino spoke for the deacons. Benedict, the Prefect of Rome, spoke for the people of Rome.

Odo accepted his election and took the name Urban II. The name chosen by the new pope after his election was publicly announced by Peter Igneus, Bishop of Albano."Tunc Albanensi episcopo pronuntiante, Urbanum illum placere vocari...." On the same day, the new Pope was enthroned and celebrated the inauguration mass. However, it was not until November 1088 that Urban II was able to travel to Rome.Richard Urban Butler (1912), "Pope Bl. Urban II," The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 15. (New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912). Retrieved: 22 Nov. 2021.

Cardinal-electors According to the decree of Pope Nicholas II In Nomine Domini (1059), Cardinal-Bishops of the suburbicarian sees were those who deliberated over the candidate to be nominated. In March 1088 there were four or five Cardinal Bishops.I.S. Robinson, p. 62; Klewitz, p. 39; Salvador Miranda, papal election of 1088 The presence of five bishops, including Bruno of Segni, is guaranteed by the letter of the newly elected pope, Urban II, to the archbishop of Salzburg, where he mentions all of the participants in the events at Terracina.Watterich, p. 576. A similar, but not identical, letter was sent to the abbot of Cluny.J.P. Migne (ed.), Patrologiae Latinae Cursus Completus Tomus 151 (Paris: J. P. Migne 1853), pp. 284-285.

Elector Title Elevated Elevator NotesHubaldus (Ubaldo)Hüls, pp. 125-126.Bishop of Sabina1063Alexander IIGiovanni MinutoHüls, pp. 139-140: "Johannes III". Bishop of Tusculumc. 1073Alexander IICreated as cardinal-priest of S. Maria in Trastevere, promotion to the suburbicarian see probably in 1073Peter Igneus, O.S.B.VallombroseHüls, pp. 90-91.Bishop of Albanoc. 1072Alexander IIHe announced the election of Urban IIOdon de Lagery, O.S.B.ClunyOdo de Châtillon. Hüls, pp. 102-103.Bishop of Ostiac. 1079–1082Gregory VIIElected Pope Urban IIGiovanniHüls, pp. 120-121.Bishop of Porto1085 or 1087 Gregory VII or Victor IIIBrunoGanzer, pp. 57-62. Hüls, pp. 129-130. R. Grégoire, p. 33, argues that Bruno was not a cardinal.Bishop of Segni1079Gregory VIIBibliothecarius Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae.Jaffé, p. 655. The Cardinal-deacon Joannes Gaetani was Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church from at least 1 July 1089: Jaffe, pp. 657; 663, no. 5401. Bruno did not participate in the papal election of 1099.

Other electors

Two Cardinals of non-episcopal rank, one Cardinal-Priest and one Cardinal Deacon assisted at the election:Urban II, in: Watterich I, p. 576. H.W. Klewitz, p. 88; I.S.Robinson, p. 62; Salvador Miranda, papal election of 1088

Elector Cardinalatial title Elevated Elevator NotesRainiero, O.S.B.Priest of S. Clemente1078Gregory VIIAbbot of the monastery of S. Lorenzo fuori le mura; future Pope Paschal II (1099-1118)Oderisio de Marsi, O.S.B.Cas.Hüls, pp. 252-252.Deacon of the Sacred Lateran Palace (deaconry unknownKlewitz, p. 91 suggests that he may have been predecessor of Giovanni Gaetani, son of Joannes Coniulo (future Pope Gelasius II) as cardinal-deacon of S. Maria in Cosmedin, but this is not attested in the documents. Salvador Miranda says that he was deacon of S. Agata, but that seems to be a confusion with Oderisio de Sangro.)1059Nicholas IIAbbot of Montecassino

Notes

References

Bibliography

Gregoire, Réginald (1965) Bruno di Segni, exégète médiéval et théologien monastique Spoleto: Centro Italiano di Studi sull'alto Medio Evo: 1965. Gregorovius, Ferdinand (1896). History of Rome in the Middle Ages. Volume IV, Part I. second edition, revised (London: George Bell, 1896). pp. 265–271. Huls, Rudolf, Kardinal, Klerus und Kirchen Roms: 1049-1130 . Tübingen 1977. H.W. Klewitz, Reformpapsttum und Kardinalskolleg, Darmstadt 1957 I. S. Robinson, The Papacy, 1073-1198: Continuity and Innovation, Cambridge University Press, 1990.