Celestine II, Pope, Elected

CELESTINE II, Pope, Elected. - Teobaldo Buccapeus or Buccapecorini, from a Roman family that had risen to some authority toward the end of the 11th century, was cardinal priest of St. Anastasia when he found himself taking part, on 16 Dec. 1124, in the election of a successor, the see being vacant through the death of Callistus II. Amid the strong division of minds increased by the threats of the Frangipane, the candidate of the majority, Cardinal Sasso d'Anagni, having been set aside because he was hateful to them, the votes turned to Teobaldo. And the elect was already being vested with the red cloak and the Te Deum was being sung, when Roberto Frangipane burst into the chapel of St. Pancras at the Lateran where the election was being held, and had his supporters acclaim as pope Lamberto, cardinal of Ostia. Struggles and violence of factions were to be feared, but the old and already reluctant Teobaldo, who had already assumed the name of C., wished to avoid, by renouncing, the schism that was already taking shape and that would later explode in all its violence at the death of Honorius. Teobaldo died, in all likelihood, still at the beginning of his competitor's pontificate.

Pier Fausto Palumbo