Editing Pope Gregory IV (section)

==Rise to papacy==
The son of a [[Rome|Roman]] [[Patrician (post-Roman Europe)|patrician]] called John, Gregory was apparently an energetic but mild churchman, renowned for his learning.<ref>Mann, pg. 190; DeCormenin, pg. 218</ref> Consecrated a priest during the pontificate of [[Pope Paschal I]], at the time of [[Pope Valentine]]’s death in 827, Gregory was the [[cardinal priest]] of the [[San Marco, Rome|Basilica of St Mark in Rome]].<ref>Mann, pg. 189</ref> Like his predecessor, Gregory was [[Papal selection before 1059|nominated by the nobility]], and the electors unanimously agreed that he was the most worthy to become the [[bishop of Rome]]. They found him at the [[Santi Cosma e Damiano, Rome|Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian]] where, despite his protestations, he was taken and installed at the [[Lateran Palace]], after which he was enthroned as pope-elect sometime in October 827.<ref>Mann, pg. 190</ref><ref>Hughes, Philip, ''History of the Church, Vol II'' (1948), pg. 183</ref> Gregory’s elevation to the papal see is believed to represent a continuation of the attempts to control the local political situation in Rome which had begun during [[Pope Eugene II]]’s pontificate.<ref name="Levillain, pg. 644">Levillain, pg. 644</ref>

Gregory's consecration was delayed until 29 March 828, when he received notice of the Emperor [[Louis the Pious]]’ approval of his election. This delay was enforced by the imperial envoys, who insisted that the [[Constitutio Romana|Constitution of 824]] expressly forbid the consecration of any pope-elect until the emperor had satisfied himself of the validity of the election.<ref>Levillain, pg. 644; Mann, pg. 191</ref> It was said that the emperor reprimanded Gregory for attempting to have himself consecrated before receiving the approval of the emperor.<ref>DeCormenin, pg. 218</ref> Gregory complied with these demands of imperial supremacy, and in 828 and 829, the pope sent embassies to Louis for unspecified discussions.

In January 829, Gregory was involved in a dispute with [[Farfa Abbey]] over the ownership of local monastic land by the Roman church. In a court run by a bishop and a [[Missus dominicus|representative]] of the emperor, and in the presence of Gregory, Abbot [[Ingoald]] of Farfa claimed that the Frankish emperors had granted them the lands, and that Popes [[Pope Adrian I|Adrian I]] and [[Pope Leo III|Leo III]] had taken possession of the land illegally.<ref>Mann, pgs. 191-192</ref> The imperial representative made a ruling in favour of the abbey, and that the lands were to be restored to the monastery.<ref>DeCormenin, pg. 219</ref> Although Gregory refused to accept the ruling, there is no evidence that he managed to get the decision overturned.<ref>Mann, pg. 192</ref>