Known as perhaps history's most powerful Pontiff, Innocent III was born as Lotario di Segni in Anagni, Italy in 1160. Originally a deacon, Lotario was raised to the rank of Cardinal in 1190 and had not yet become a priest when eight years later he was elected to the Throne of St Peter. While everyone was celebrating his ascension, three doves were flying around the room where the Cardinals were seated. When Innocent III was elected and removed from the group, the whitest dove of the three flew down and stood at the Pope's right hand. Observers held this as a sign that the correct choice had been made. It was a miraculous begining for the reign of one of the Church's most remarkable Popes.
Innocent III had the character that is required of all great religious leaders. He was energetic in his duties, strictly moral and uncompromising on his ethics and was able to handle those around him firmly but with diplomacy as well. Upon his ascension he settled the partisan bickering that had been hurting Rome for some time and reasserted his authority over the Papal States as well as increasing their size. He was the first Pope to formally assert the principle that the Church was the source of all earthly power and that the Papacy had authority over all Christian monarchs in a united family relationship.
Innocent III acted as regent on behalf of King Frederick II of Sicily, son of the Holy Roman Emperor. He arbitrated disputes between the monarchs of Europe and crowned and deposed the Holy Roman Emperors according to their behavior. In England he settled a dispute over who would be Archbishop of Canterbury and when King John began persecuting the Church there he placed the country under interdict and excommunicated the king. He considered deposing King John, but did not do so and later supported the King when the Barons revolted and forced him to sign the Magna Carta. Innocent III declared this document null, not because he disapproved of the rights it guranteed, but because it had been enacted by force of arms and without Church approval.
During his reign, Spain, Scandinavia, Hungary and the Latin East could almost be considered Papal dominions. He called the Fourth Crusade, which never made it to Palestine and he excommunicated all the Crusaders when they turned against their fellow Christians. However, not all of the Pope's accomplishments were of a political nature. He published the treatises "On Contempt for the World" and "The Sacred Mystery of the Alter". He was also a reformer and encouraged the new Order of Friars Minor begun by St Francis of Assisi. Pope Innocent III was a great supporter of the missions, the struggle against heresy and humanitarian aid. He is also remembered for his writings on the Papal monarchy theory which greatly influenced the institution of the Papacy. Innocent III died in 1216 in Perugia on July 16, of fever. He had reigned as Pope 18 years, 6 months & 8 days. |
