Views During the Third Period (750-1517 A.D.) (11): The Supremacy of the Pope: Gregory VII and the Papacy

Hildebrand elected Pope. His Views on the Situation. Hildebrand elected Pope. His Views on the Situation. Alexander II died April 21, 1073, and was buried in the basilica of St. John in Lateran on the following day. The city, usually so turbulent after the death of a pope, was tranquil. Hildebrand ordered a three days' fast with litanies and prayers for the dead, after which the cardinals were to proceed to an election. Before the funeral service was closed, the people shouted, "Hildebrand...