Pope Honorius II

Born Lamberto Scannabecchi on 9 February 1060, he rose through the church despite humble origins, his mind sharp enough to carry him into the Roman Frangipani family's orbit. His election as pope on 21 December 1124 required force to beat back a rival, Celestine II. Once in, Honorius spent his pontificate shoring up what the Concordat of Worms had won—he became the first pope to confirm a Holy Roman emperor's election—while steering favor toward the Augustinians, Cistercians, and the newly approved Knights Templar in 1128, wary of the old Benedictine power at Monte Cassino and Cluny. He could…