PASCHAL I, POPE, saint. - He was elected pope the day after the death of Stephen V (25 January 817) and consecrated on the 26th. He had previously been abbot of the monastery of St. Stephen Major in the Vatican. During his pontificate, the confirmation by Louis the Pious took place regarding the possession of vast territories claimed by the Roman Church in Italy, namely: Rome, Roman Tuscany, Perugia and its surroundings, Campania, Tivoli, the Exarchate of Ravenna, the Pentapolis, the Sabina, and Lombard Tuscany.
As for the territories beyond the Liri and in southern Italy included in the privilege, the Holy See in truth had only nominal rights. The emperor allowed the pope to exercise his sovereignty freely, except in cases of violence or injustice. Moreover, he guaranteed full freedom in papal elections, provided they were celebrated canonically and with unanimity. The elector would have been required only to send envoys to the imperial court to solicit the renewal of the pact made with Louis the Pious (L. Duchesne-P. Fabre, Le Liber censuum, I, Paris 1889, pp. 363-65).
Lothair I, whom PASCHAL consecrated emperor on 5 April 823, wished to assert his authority by issuing a judgment in favor of Ingolandus, abbot of Farfa, who denied any dependence on the Holy See. Lothair also intervened following the killing of the primicerius Theo-