LUCIO II, PAPA. – Gherardo Caccianemici, b. in Bologna, d. in Rome on 15 February 1145. A regular canon, he was created cardinal by Onorio II and was his legate at the Diet of Mainz (Aug. 1125), where Lotario di Suplimburgo was elected emperor. He restored and embellished the church of S. Croce, which was his titular church. Innocenzo II appointed him chancellor of the Roman Church. Elected to succeed Celestino II, he was consecrated on 12 March 1144 under the name of L. II. During the few months of his pontificate he had to contend with the rebellious Roman citizenry, which, with the aim of extending its power, had renewed the Senate, placing at its head a patrician in the person of Giordano Pierleoni, brother of the deceased antipope Anacleto II, with the authority of prince in the city.
In order to recover his power, the Pope succeeded, overcoming various difficulties, in reaching an understanding with the Norman Ruggero II, king of Sicily, and he also appealed to Corrado di Hohenstaufen for assistance, which was not granted. Then, with the forces that had remained loyal to him and the reinforcements obtained from the King of Sicily and the feudal lords of Lazio, at the beginning of 1145 he attacked the Campidoglio, the stronghold of his enemies. But the assault was repulsed, and the Pope died shortly afterward in the monastery of S. Gregorio al Celio, apparently as a result of a stone blow received during the conflict.
At the Roman Synod of May 1144, L. confirmed the metropolitan authority of the see of Tours against the bishop of Dol; and he recognized the primatial dignity of the archbishop of Toledo over Spain and Portugal. He accepted the homage of King Alfonso Henriques, who declared Portugal a vassal of the Holy See, binding himself to pay tribute.