1118 papal election

The Papal bull In nomine Domini, issued by Pope Nicholas II in 1059, stated that on the death of the incumbent pope, the cardinal-bishops should confer among themselves as to a candidate; when a candidate has been deduced the cardinal-bishops and all other cardinals are to proceed to an election.[1]

Data on the number and composition of the College of Cardinals in January 1118 are very uncertain. The primary source was written over a dozen years later by Pandulf of Pisa, cardinal-priest of Santi Cosma e Damiano.[2] It claimed that the election was attended by 49 cardinals (four bishops, 27 priests and 18 deacons). However, it mentions the names of only 35 of them (four bishops, 20 priests and 11 deacons, including the elect).[3] According to Pandulf, one cardinal-priest, Hugh of Santi Apostoli, was absent, to which must be added two other cardinals bishops which Pandulf in the context of the election does not mention, but whose existence and dignity are documented in no uncertain terms. The credibility of the account of Pandulf, including his list of electors, is challenged by modern historians, due to the polemical nature of the atmosphere resulting from the schism with Antipope Anacletus II (1130–1138).[4] Critical analysis of the sources reveales that:[5]

• In January 1118 the Cardinals, priests and deacons cardinals was less than clear from the Pandulf document[6]
• Several cardinals mentioned by Pandulf were elevated by later popes [7]

In January 1118, the College of Cardinals had a population of probably only 41 members, including 6 bishops, 20 priests and 15 deacons, of which 36 (4, 18 and 14) participated in the election:

Two subdeacons were in attendance, Nicholas, Provost of the Choir School, and Amico O.S.B. (Cluny), Abbot of Saint Lawrence outside the Walls.[9]

Paschal II throughout his papacy fought the investiture controversy of Emperor Henry V who supported the Roman aristocracy. After his death, the Cardinals took refuge in a Benedictine monastery on the Palatine Hill fearing supporters of the emperor. On January 24, three days after the customary prayers and devotions, the electors unanimously chose Giovanni Cardinal Coniulo from Gaeta, cardinal-deacon of Santa Maria in Cosmedin and Chancellor of the Holy See. On election he adopted the papal name Gelasius II.

Shortly after his election the pope was arrested by the Roman baron Cenzio II Frangipani, a supporter of the emperor. Despite being freed by a popular uprising in March, the pope fled from Rome to France, where he remained until his death at the beginning of the following year. During this time, the emperor appointed Archbishop Maurice Burdinusa Braga, who took the name Gregory VIII, as antipope.

• H. W. Klewitz, Reformpapsttum und Kardinalkolleg, Darmstadt 1957
• CG Furst, Kennen Wir die Wahlern Gelsius' II?, In: Festschrift Karl Pivec. Zum 60 Geburtstag von gewidmet Kollegen, edited by Anton Haidacher, Hans Eberhard Mayer, ed. Sprachwissenschaftliches Institut der Leopold-Franzens-Universität, 1966, pp. 69–80
• I. S. Robinson, The Papacy 1073–1198. Continuity and Innovations, Cambridge University Press 1990
• R. Huls, Kardinal, Klerus und Kirchen Roms: 1049–1130, Tübingen 1977

• Miranda, Salvador. "Election of January 21 - 24, 1118 (Gelasius II)". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. Florida International University.
• Gelasius II - Vita Operaque
• Catholic Encyclopedia