Pope Innocent III

Pope Innocent III (; 1160 or 1161 – 16 July 1216) was an Italian priest of the Roman Catholic Church and the 177th Pope from 1198 until his death in 1216. "List of Popes,"  Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2011-11-02.

Early life 
Lotario di Conti was born at Anagni "Agnani", Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-6. in central Italy. His father was Count Trasimund of Segni "Pope Innocent III", Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-10-31. who was a member of the Conti family.

During the short reigns of Pope Lucius III, Pope Urban III, Pope Gregory VIII, and Pope Clement III, he served in the church bureaucracy.

Cardinal
In 1190, Clement III raised him to the rank of Cardinal.

Pope
Cardinal Segni was unanimously elected pope on January 8, 1198; and he took the name of Innocent III.

Pope Innocent was involved in Italian and European political disputes.

Pope Innocent promoted the theory that the spiritual power of the church was greater than any king or emperor. Innocent was the first pope to form a Papal state.

Crusades
Innocent III was responsible for starting the Fourth Crusade, the Albigensian Crusade, and the Fifth Crusade.Pope Innocent III", Crusades Encyclopedia (2005); retrieved 2011-11-6.

Lateran Council
In 1215, Innocent brought together the church's bishops and cardinals in a meeting called the Fourth Lateran Council.

Related pages
 List of popes
 List of popes from the Conti family

References

Other websites


  Catholic Hierarchy,  Pope in sequence
  Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church , Cardinal Segni 

Category:1160s births
Category:1216 deaths
Category:Italian popes