Pope from April 2, 1285 - April 3, 1287
Lived: 1210 - April 3, 1287
Birth name: Giacomo Savelli
Who was this guy before he was pope?
A Roman by birth, Giacomo Savelli was part of a well-known family and was the son of Luca, the Roman Senator who died in 1266. Giacomo studied at the University of Paris, then in later life served at the cathedral nearby and was oddly assigned as rector of a church in England (which he never visited) to boot. Pope Urban IV elevated him to Cardinal-Deacon in 1261, while also making him captain of the papal army in Tuscany. He was one of the six cardinals who, after three long years, finally picked Blessed Gregory X as pope in 1271. He attended the Council of Lyons in 1274, was sent to Viterbo in 1276 by Adrian V, and ultimately became Protodeacon of the College of Cardinals in 1277, taking up the duty of crowning both Nicholas III and Martin IV.
Okay, give me the scoop on Honorius IV.
Honorius IV, elected just five days after the death of Martin IV, took his name after his (really) great uncle Honorius III. Honorius was 75 years old at his election and took office on April 2, 1285. Still being a deacon, he was ordained a priest on May 19, then consecrated a bishop and crowned pope on Trinity Sunday, May 20, at St. Peter’s Basilica. He was suffering severely from either gout or arthritis in those years, and as a result could barely stand or walk. It’s also said that he required help raising the Host during the Consecration at Mass, as well.
Honorius was a patron of the many mendicant religious orders, granting many privileges to them during his time in office. He also established chairs at the University of Paris to learn Eastern languages, specifically for the purpose of converting Muslims to Christianity and seeking reunion with churches in the East. Honorius IV was pope for two years and one day, dying April 3, 1287.
Honorius was a patron of the many mendicant religious orders, granting many privileges to them during his time in office. He also established chairs at the University of Paris to learn Eastern languages, specifically for the purpose of converting Muslims to Christianity and seeking reunion with churches in the East. Honorius IV was pope for two years and one day, dying April 3, 1287.
What was he known for?
Pope Honorius IV, like many of his predecessors, was tied up with all the hullabaloo in Sicily for nearly his entire papacy. Charles of Anjou had died, and his timid son Charles II had no interest in trying to recapture the crown of Sicily. The young Charles was willing to let it fall into the hands of Peter of Aragon and his sons, James and Alfonso, to which Honorius basically said, “I may be old, but I’m no quitter.”
Wishing to keep his interests in Sicily, the pope excommunicated the newly-crowned James and sanctioned an attack there in the early spring of 1287. Sadly, the papal armies were soundly whipped by the Aragonese admiral, Roger de Lauria, though Honorius died before learning the news.
Fun Fact...
Honorius was the last pope in Church history to have once been married. The pope was a widower and is known to have had at least two sons. There’s still technically a chance of this happening today since Church law doesn’t preclude formerly-married men from entering the priesthood.
What else was going on in the world at the time?
Construction on the incredible Altar of St. James at the Cathedral of San Zeno in Pistoia, Italy was begun. The incredible and landmark work of silversmithing, which contained nearly one ton of silver, wasn’t finished for almost 200 years.
Coming tomorrow....Pope Nicholas IV