Some remarks on the ecclesiology of Honorius II’s papacy

This article considers the idea of the Church adopted by the papacy of Honorius II (1124- 1130), a pontificate hitherto overlooked by most historians. The main sources, examined with a particular focus on language and context, are the extant letters produced by the papal chancery, which present the official Roman view. Through the analysis of the papacy’s theoretical assertions of primacy over the whole Church and the innovations of the chancery led by Haimeric (1123-1141), this work argues that this pontificate added a degree of novelty to ideas already in use but also made new and stronger claims for the papal office. The image emerging from this analysis frames Honorius’s papacy more effectively, overturning the idea of a transitional and colourless pope. This was a vital pontificate, during which some significant innovations and claims were made.