Pope Gelasius II

Pope Gelasius II, born Giovanni Caetani around the years one thousand sixty to one thousand sixty-four, served as the head of the Catholic Church and the ruler of the Papal States from January twenty-four, one thousand one hundred eighteen until his death on January twenty-nine, one thousand one hundred nineteen.

A monk of the esteemed Monte Cassino, Gelasius was previously the chancellor under Pope Paschal II. His election to the papacy was unanimous, reflecting the high regard in which he was held by his contemporaries.

However, Gelasius II's papacy was marked by significant challenges, particularly the ongoing conflict with Emperor Henry V over the contentious issue of investiture. This struggle for power and authority led Gelasius to spend a considerable portion of his brief tenure in exile, navigating the turbulent political landscape of his time.