ANASTASIO IV, PAPA

ANASTASIUS IV, POPE. — Conrad "de Suburra," a Roman, cardinal and bishop of Sabina since 1126; during the schism between Innocent II and Anacletus II he had sided with the former and was even appointed vicar for Italy when Innocent was forced to flee to France. Upon the death of Eugenius III he was elected Pope (12 July 1153) without any opposition, although there was much unrest in Rome: this shows that Conrad was generally well regarded. He was now an old man, but had much experience in curial affairs; the brief duration of his pontificate did not allow him to exert an effective influence, especially since it began just as the reign of Frederick Barbarossa was commencing. Noteworthy is his charitable action toward the Romans during a period of famine and the construction of a palace near the Pantheon. He died on 3 December 1154 and was buried in a porphyry sarcophagus in the Lateran Basilica.