Pope Gregory IX
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Pope Gregory IX was head of the Catholic Church and the ruler of the Papal States from 19 March 1227 until his death in 1241. He is known for issuing the Decretales and instituting the Papal Inquisition, in response to the failures of the episcopal inquisitions established during the time of Pope Lucius III, by means of the papal bull Ad abolendam, issued in 1184.
Gregory IX in a manuscript miniature c. 1270
Page from a late 13 c. copy of the Decretals of Gregory IX, now in the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Florence
Fanciful 16th c. fresco depicting Gregory excommunicating Frederick II in the Sala Regia, by Giorgio Vasari. Since few details where provided to the artist, the excommunication scene is given generically. Fredrick is shown pointing to a book with the word "Concilium" shown, possibly a reference to the general council that the emperor attempted to call to depose Gregory.
The Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Ostia is an ecclesiastical territory located within the Metropolitan City of Rome in Italy. It is one of the seven suburbicarian dioceses. The incumbent Bishop is cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. Since 1150, its bishop has been the Dean of the College of Cardinals. Its Cathedral is Basilica di Sant'Aurea.
Basilica di Sant'Aurea