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Lotario dei conti de Segni: Innocent III
Beasts of many kinds are attempting to destroy the vineyard of the Lord of
Sabaoth, and their onset has so far succeeded against it that over no small area
thorns have sprung up instead of vines and (with grief we report it!) the vines
themselves are variously infected and diseased, and instead of the grape they
bring forth the wild grape. Therefore, we invoke the testimony of Him, who is a
faithful witness in the Heavens, that of all the desires of our heart we long chiefly
for two in this life, namely that we may work successfully to recover the Holy
Land and to reform the Universal Church, both of which call for attention so
immediate as to preclude further apathy or delay unless at the risk of great and
serious danger. 45
“Lotario dei conti di Segni of Gavignano (Rome)” elected to serve the Church as Pope
Innocent III on the day of the death of Pope Celestine III, January 8, 1198. 46 Consecrated as the
‘Vicar of Christ’ on the feast of St. Peter’s Chair, February 22, 1198. 47 Lotario was born into the
Conti family, his mother Clarice Scotti married Trasmondo of Segni, his uncle was Pope
45
Edward Peters, ed., Christian Society and the Crusades 1198 – 1229, (PA: University of Pennsylvania Press,
1971),ix.
46
th
Innocent III: 176 Pope of the Catholic Church,http://w2.vatican.va/content/vatican/en/holy-father/innocenzo-
iii.html, accessed March 28, 2016.
47
Jane Sayre, Innocent III: Leader of Europe, 1198-1216, (UK: Longman Group Ltd., 1994), 305, Kindle.