Editing Pope Eugene III (section)

==Early life==
Bernardo was born in the vicinity of [[Pisa]]. Little is known about his origins and family except that he was son of a certain Godius.<ref>Horn, p. 31.</ref> From the 16th century he is commonly identified as member of the family of [[Paganelli]] di [[Montemagno, Pisa|Montemagno]], which belonged to the [[Pisa]]n [[Aristocracy (class)|aristocracy]], but this has not been proven and contradicts earlier testimonies that suggest he was a man of rather humble origins.<ref>J. M. Brixius, ''Die Mitglieder des Kardinalkollegiums von 1130–1181'', Berlin 1912, p. 86; [http://www.cantieresanbernardo.it/files/Bernardo_di_Chiaravalle.html#_ftnref36 Eugenio III] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923200253/http://www.cantieresanbernardo.it/files/Bernardo_di_Chiaravalle.html#_ftnref36 |date=2015-09-23 }}. Horn, p. 33–34, has rejected the attribution of this familiar denomination to Eugene III as completely unfounded.</ref> In 1106 he was a canon of the cathedral chapter in Pisa and from 1115 is attested as [[subdeacon]].<ref>Horn, p. 34–35.</ref> 1133–1138 he acted as ''vicedominus'' of the [[archdiocese of Pisa]].<ref>Horn, p. 34.</ref>

Between May 1134 and February 1137 he was ordained to the priesthood by [[Pope Innocent II]], who resided at that time in Pisa.<ref>Horn, p. 35–36.</ref> Under the influence of [[Bernard of Clairvaux]] he entered the [[Cistercian Order]] in the monastery of [[Clairvaux Abbey|Clairvaux]] in 1138. A year later he returned to Italy as leader of the Cistercian community in [[Scandriglia]]. In Autumn 1140, Innocent II named him abbot of the monastery of S. Anastasio alle Tre Fontane outside [[Rome]].<ref>Horn, p. 36–40.</ref> Some chronicles indicate that he was also elevated to the [[College of Cardinals]],<ref>On that ground Brixius, p. 41 no. 7, lists him among the cardinals created by Innocent II.</ref> but these testimonies probably resulted from a confusion because Bernardo is not attested as cardinal in any document and from the letter of Bernard of Clairvaux addressed to the cardinals shortly after his election it clearly appears that he was not a cardinal.<ref>Horn, p. 42–45.</ref>