Celestine II (Pope)

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Coelestin II , originally Guido di Castello , German Guido von Città di Castello , († March 8, 1144 ) was Pope from September 26, 1143 to March 8, 1144. His term of office lasted only five months and 13 days, he was buried in the Lateran .

Live and act

Guido of Città di Castello was the first official of the Roman Curia to hold the title of Magister . In his youth it had belonged to Peter Abelard in Paris and was dear to him throughout his life.

Before his brief pontificate he was cardinal deacon of Santa Maria in Via Lata from 1127 . In this rank he took part in the consecration of the altar in Morigny by Pope Innocent II in 1131 and met his former teacher there.

He was created cardinal priest of San Marco in 1133.

In 1140 he was on a papal mission in France before the Council of Sens , which condemned Abelard. Guido, like his cardinal colleague Hyazinth Bobo, was suspected by Bernhard von Clairvaux of being a defender of Abelard at the Roman Curia. The accusation was probably not wrong. After the public burning of Abelard's books in Rome in the early summer of 1141, Guido brought his works Theologia and Sic-et-Non to the library of his hometown Città di Castello in order to save them for posterity, against the papal will.

Just two days after Pope Innocent's death, on September 26, 1143, Guido was elected Pope Celestine II by Città di Castello. This choice of a friend of Abelard shows the deep gulf that cut through the Roman Curia. Guido, now Pope Celestine II, was very learned. In his pious demeanor and authoritative manner he was similar to Abbot Petrus Venerabilis of Cluny. But by the time he was elected pope, the people of Rome were revolting against the papacy, and Guido could do little in the six months of his pontificate that remained.

The most important act of his tenure was the absolution of the penitent King Louis VII of France and the repeal of the interdict that had lain in the country for three years. He broke the alliance of his predecessor with King Roger II of Sicily .

Pope Celestine II died on March 8, 1144, presumably an unnatural death, probably from poisoning.

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Commons : Celestine II.  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
predecessor Office successor
Innocent II Pope
1143–1144 		Lucius II
personal data
SURNAME Celestine II.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Guido di Castello; Guido from Cittá di Castello
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Pope (1143–1144)
DATE OF BIRTH 11th century or 12th century
DATE OF DEATH March 8, 1144
Place of death Rome