Blessed Pope Gregory X

Life story

Teobaldo Visconti was born around 1210 in Piacenza; the year is only an estimate. He was elected pope on 1 September 1271, ending an election that had begun in 1268 and is described as the longest papal election in the history of the Catholic Church.

He convened the Second Council of Lyon, which opened on 7 May 1274. It dealt with the East-West schism, the Holy Land and abuses in the Church.

At the council, in July 1274, the constitution Ubi periculum on papal elections was promulgated. Its main provisions were a waiting period of ten days after a pope's death for absent cardinals, enclosure of the cardinals together in one sealed place until an election, and reduced food if they delayed; a cardinal who stayed out did not block the election. Adrian V and John XXI suspended and revoked the rules in 1276, but Celestine V restored them in 1294 and Boniface VIII had them incorporated into canon law.

He died at Arezzo on 10 January 1276 and is buried in the cathedral there. Pope Clement XI beatified him in 1713; his cause for canonization remains open.

Works and witness

• Elected in 1271 after the longest papal election
• Convened the Second Council of Lyon, opened 7 May 1274
• Issued the election rules Ubi periculum
• Beatified in 1713

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

• Catholic Encyclopedia, "Second Council of Lyons (1274)" (newadvent.org/cathen/09476c.htm)
• Catholic Encyclopedia, "Conclave" (newadvent.org/cathen/04192a.htm)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.