Digital Continent Digital Continent Easter 2017 | Page 23

Clement III (1187 – 91). The family owned land in the Anagni region, southeast of Rome. 48
Lotario was born into a time in history when Europe was facing many changes, there was an
awakening to education through the development of Universities; the Church was transitioning
away from imperial rule to papal authority; it was a time where feudalism was becoming
outdated through urban growth; and where crusaders went off to fight the holy wars for Christ. 49
Lotario went to Rome, Paris and then to Bologna for his studies. Thus leading Lotario
more deeply into the theological constructs of the Catholic Church, particularly in discerning the
biblical writings regarding Apostolic succession. When Jesus spoke to Peter saying, “you are
Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” (RSV, Mt 16:18-19), Lotario knew Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, created His Church to which Peter was to lead and to continue to lead
through the laying on of hands by the successors of Peter’s chair for all time. 50 “See, I have set
you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to
overthrow, to build and to plant” (RSV, Jer 1:10).
As he grew in knowledge and wisdom Lotario progressed in his work in the church
eventually being appointed cardinal deacon of the church of Saints Sergio and Bacco by Pope
Clement in 1189 or 1190. 51 Lotario was serving in this position in the Church at the time of
Celestine III’s death, when he was elected Pope Innocent III, “the chosen of God, to fulfil the
law of God; Vicar of Christ throughout the world and at the same time servus servorum, slave of
48
Ibid., 325, Kindle.
Joseph Clayton, Pope Innocent III and His Times, (WI: The Bruce Publishing Company, 1941), 3 – 15.
50
Joseph Clayton, Pope Innocent III and His Times, (WI: The Bruce Publishing Company, 1941), 23.
51
John C. Moore, Pope Innocent III 1160/61-1216: To Root Up and to Plant, (IN: University of Notre Dame Press,
2003), 12.
49