Pope Gelasius II was an Italian and a Benedictine monk before becoming the 161st pope. A little over one year after accepting the position, he passed away.

Born to the Caetaini family, the future pope was known as Giovanni during his early years. His family came to Rome from Pisa. Giovanni joined the Monte Cassino and became a Benedictine monk. Pope Urban II was looking for someone who could improve his documents and heard about the work Giovanni did for that church. The pope asked him to move to Rome and made him a subdeacon in August of 1088. Just one month later, Giovanni became a cardinal deacon. He also served as a chancellor until 1118.

Just three days after Pope Paschal II died, the cardinals selected Giovanni as the next pope. Cencio II Frangipan was a close friend of Henry V. Neither man approved of Giovanni’s appointment. Cencio II stormed into Rome and captured the new pope. He did not have the chance to do anything with the man as a group of Roman citizens fought back and released Giovanni. Henry V then stormed the city and claimed that Gelasius II was not the true pope.

Gelasius II was forced to live the city and abandon his post. Henry V then appointed Maurice Bourdin as the new pope. Bordin chose the name Gregory VIII. According to Henry V, he had the authority to name the pope as the Holy Roman Emperor and stated that Pope Gelasius II was not the pope.

Gelasius accepted his priesthood orders on March ninth and was consecrated the next day. Norman soldiers supported him and stood by his side as he returned to Rome. Once back, he excommunicated both the antipope and the Roman Emperor. After suffering an attack while overseeing Mass, he travelled to France to decide what to do next. While planning a council and looking for allies, the pope passed away. As he was in France when he died, Gelasius II is one of the only popes in history to die while outside of Italy.

Cardinals appointed Callixtus II as the next pope just days later in direct opposition to Gregory XIII.
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Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Julian the Hospitaller
2. Saint Dallan Forghaill
3. Saint Gildas the Wise
4. Saint Juniper
5. Saint Aquilinus of Milan

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