LABORANS, Cardinal. — Jurist and theologian, born at Pontormo near Florence at the beginning of the 12th century, died about 1191. He studied in France, perhaps at the school of Gilbert of Poitiers. On his return to Italy, he became canon of Capua before 1160, and in 1173 was created cardinal by Alexander III.
Of his writings the following are known: *Compilatio decretorum*; *De institutia et iure*; *De vera libertate*; *Contra Sabellianos*; *De relativa praedicatione personae in divinis*, preserved in ms. C. 110 of the Chapter Archive of the Vatican Basilica. The *De institutia et iure* was edited by G. B. Siracusa (Palermo 1886), the others by A. M. Landgraf, *Card. Laborantis opuscula* ([Florilegium Patristicum, 32] Bonn 1932). His *Compilatio* draws upon the Decree of Gratian, but arranges the material in a new way, enriching it with the decretals of Innocent II, Eugenius III, and Alexander III. Although the work exerted no influence, it is nevertheless of great importance.
Laborans’ style is rather obscure; to clarify his thought, Landgraf took great care in establishing a doctrinal parallel with Gilbert of Poitiers.