HONORIUS  III
(1216-1227)

Cencio was born in Rome to the powerful Savelli family. He devoted a long life of service to the Roman Church as a canon of St. Mary Major, chamberlain of the Holy See, cardinal deacon of St. Lucy and later cardinal priest of SS. John and Paul.  When elected pope in July 1216, he was already an elderly man with long experience in the administration of the affairs of the Apostolic See.  Though Honorius III had a deep knowledge of church matters, he was much less clever in politics than Innocent III had been.   The major care of the pontificate was the diplomacy with Frederick II and his son Henry.  Honorius III moved immediately into the tasks set by the Fourth Lateran Council and initiated by Innocent III.  Without Frederick II,  Honorius III managed to launch the Fifth Crusade to recover the kingdom of Jerusalem, but it was not successful.  He was more effective when dealing with religious matters and church affairs.  In particular, he took great care of discipline and legal aspects regarding the election of popes and bishops by defending the rules and rituals.  He ordered that priests be better educated.  He gave final approval to the new mendicant orders, the Franciscans and the Dominicans, and he confirmed the Carmelite Order.  Honorius III left behind many writings, among them a life of Gregory VII and what has been referred to as the first official book of Canon Law.  Honorius III  died in Rome at a very advanced age on 18 March 1227 and was buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.