Frederick II and the Papacy (2)

In the preceding article under the above caption we witnessed the opposition of Frederick II to the world pretentions of the papacy. The papal contestant in this struggle with whom we were last occupied is Gregory IX, who, as was stated, died contending for the states of the church in Italy to which Frederick was laying claim. After a papal vacancy of twenty months, Gregory was succeeded by Coelestin IV, who outlived his election less than three weeks. The next pope, Innocent IV (1243-1254),...