Papal election, 1088

Papal election of March 12, 1088, convoked after the death of Pope Victor III, elected Cardinal Odon de Lagery who took the name of Urban II.

Pope Victor III died on September 16, 1087 at Montecassino. Shortly before his death he recommended the election of Cardinal Odon de Lagery as his successor. 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 recover. In this situation the adherents of Victor III assembled on March 9, 1088 at Terracina under the protection of Norman army to elect the new Pope. Besides Cardinal-Bishops, who were the sole electors of the Pope, at the electoral assembly in the episcopal church of SS. Pietro e Cesareo there were present also the representatives of the two lower orders of cardinals, over forty bishops and abbots, as well as Benedetto, prefect of Rome and Countness Matilda of Tuscany. Initially the usual three days of fasting and prayer were proclaimed, and the meeting adjourned till Sunday, March 12, 1088. On that day the cardinals and the rest of the present churchmen and laymen assembled again in the same church. The Cardinal-Bishops of Albano, Tusculum and Porto together proposed the election of Odon de Lagery, Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia, who was designated by Victor III. He accepted his election and took the name Urban II. The election had been publicly announced by Cardinal Peter Igneus of Albano. On the same day new Pope was enthroned and celebrated the inauguration mass [ [http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/conclave-xi.htm#1088 Salvador Miranda: papal election of 1088] ] . It was not till November 1088 when Urban II could have arrived to Rome [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15210a.htm The Catholic Encyclopedia: Pope Urban II] ] .

Cardinal-electors

According to the decree of Nicholas II In Nomine Domini (1059) Cardinal-Bishops of the suburbicarian sees were the sole electors of the Pope. In March 1088 there were six Cardinal Bishops [I.S. Robinson, p. 62, and Klewitz, p. 39; Salvador Miranda, [http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/conclave-xi.htm#1088 papal election of 1088] mentions only four] :

Assistant electors

Two senior Cardinals of the lower ranges, one Cardinal-Priest and one Cardinal Deacon assisted at the election [I.S.Robinson, p. 62] :

Notes

Bibliography

*I. S. Robinson, "The Papacy, 1073-1198: Continuity and Innovation", Cambridge University Press, 1990
*H.W. Klewitz, "Reformpapsttum und Kardinalskolleg", Darmstadt 1957